Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wales v All Blacks

Kick-off: 4:10am Sunday 23 November

Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Live blog updates on RNZ

Coach Scott Robertson has said that the feeling in the All Black camp is much the same one day on from their 33-19 loss to England. It was the third loss this season in a schedule of 13 tests, and the second by a significant margin following a record defeat to the Springboks during the Rugby Championship.

READ MORE:

All Blacks crash to defeat against England

Grand slammed – what went wrong for the All Blacks against England

All Blacks: Scott Robertson, Scott Barrett reflect on big loss to England

The aftermath of the loss to England sees focus now firmly on the issues that have plagued the All Blacks for the past two seasons, most notably their inability to keep teams under pressure in big tests.

“There’s lots of different reasons, but there’s no excuses from us. And we’ve got to be better in some areas so we can finish teams off,” said Robertson this morning.

“Ultimately, we want to be as consistent as we possibly can, that’s what a professional team wants to be, consistent with everything you work with. You’re not going to win every moment in games, but you’ve got to fight your way back into it, through adversity.

“When you it doesn’t quite come all together, you know, that’s the part that hurts. It’s not for lack of care, I’ll put it that way. But it’s definitely frustration that we work so hard to be consistent and that’s the part that gets you.”

Robertson, who came into the All Black job after seven consecutive championship seasons with the Crusaders, acknowledged that ‘test rugby is pretty brutal’.

“You lose a couple of player each game on average, just through the Ferocity of the match contacts. The recovery part becomes tougher, the travel, everything that comes with it.

“So when you get energy, new faces, new bodies coming in that, that excitement that…it’s a balance. Sometimes you have all the best laid plans of how you’re going to play, then you come off the field in these the medical ward are fuller than you’d expect.”

Steve Borthwick’s England side notably adjusted their game plan throughout Sunday morning’s test, with a heavy reliance on the kicking game of inside back pairing Alex Mitchell and George Ford. Robertson acknowledged that the aerial game was still a work on for New Zealand players, due to the comparative lack of exposure to it in the domestic game here.

“It’s a crucial part, an important part of the game…we don’t tend to do it so much in Super Rugby. So coming into test rugby, you have got the most accurate kickers in the world and you’ve got incredible aerial catches. We spend a lot of time on it, look, we’ve got to get better laid plans.”

From a wider perspective, Robertson said that new NZ Rugby chairman and former All Black captain David Kirk has been ‘straight up’ with expectations two years out from the next World Cup.

“Look, he’s pretty pragmatic, he tells you how it is. Straight up, as you’d expect. (Also) hugely supportive. He understands good relationships in the group and we welcome him with open arms…he’s been great to us.”

Unsurprisingly, Robertson more or less confirmed there will be wholesale changes to the side for the last test match of the year. They face Wales in Cardiff, with the home team recording their first win in two years over the weekend when they defeated Japan 24-22 thanks to a last play penalty goal.

“There’ll be some fresh, new energy in the group for sure,” said Robertson, who singled out Ruben Love as a player who will likely start this weekend.

“He’s obviously a 15 that can play 10 and he deserves an opportunity.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington golfer Daniel Hillier has failed to gain his PGA Tour card in the final event on the World Tour.

Hillier was hoping to join Ryan Fox on the US tour in 2026 by finishing high enough on the World Tour to gain one of ten PGA tour cards up for grabs.

However the 27-year-old finished in a tie for 16th at the season-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai, earning him just under $180,000.

His two-under par final round meant he finished 11-under overall and 18th in the season-long Race to Dubai.

Hillier had four top ten finishes this year including second place at the Dubai Desert Classic in January.

Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick won the tournament in a play-off with Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy won the Race to Dubai title for a seventh time, one short of Colin Montgomerie’s record eight titles.

McIlroy has had an outstanding year, completing a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters in April.

He won four times including the Players Championship and the Irish Open, while he played a big part in helping Europe win the Ryder Cup.

Fellow New Zealander Kazuma Kobori finished tied for 42nd at the World Tour Championship.

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

The Silver Ferns have lost the second netball test against England in London.

They were been beaten by the same score they won by in the first test, 61-58.

It was another tight affair from the start with the evenly matched teams trading goals through the first quarter, which ended with New Zealand in front 13-12.

The Ferns extended their lead to four midway through the second, but England showed resolve to stay in touch, and in the end New Zealand’s lead was just two goals at halftime, 29-27.

England flexed their muscles in the third quarter, thanks to two runs of three consecutive goals, which saw them move four goals clear, 46-42.

New Zealand refused to give up the fight though, and drew level at 53-all, but that was as good as it got, as England rattled off the next three goals in a row, to seize control of the scoreboard for the rest of the match.

The final test in the series is in Manchester on Thursday morning.

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

Follow all the netball action, as the Silver Ferns take on England for their second test at Copper Box Arena in London.

The game begins at 4am NZT

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

The Black Caps have won a tight match in the first one-day against the West Indies in Christchurch.

After the Black Caps set a total of 269, the West Indies were left with 20 runs to get in the final over, but fell short by seven runs.

Earlier, Daryl Mitchell batted through injury to rescue the Black Caps from collapse.

Mitchell arrived at the crease with his team reeling at 24/2, after losing opener Rachin Ravindra and Will Young in successive balls, both caught behind by wicketkeeper Shai Hope, off the bowling of Matthew Forde.

He steadied the innings with a 67-run partnership with Devon Conway (49), and another 69-run stand with Michael Bracewell (35), before he was finally dismissed for 119 off 118 balls in the final over.

Mitchell appeared suffer an injury late in his knock, but stayed in the middle to guide the Black Caps to safety.

New Zealand set their rivals a target of 270 for victory, with Jayden Seales (3/41) the most successful of the West Indies bowlers.

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

In a dominant display, Hamilton cyclist Kate McCarthy has claimed back-to-back titles at the UCI Esports World Championship grand finals in Abu Dhabi.

The unique esport uses stationary bikes attached to smart trainers and a virtual cycling platform called MyWhoosh, and has been held since 2020.

The event has a three-stage point-based system, with different ways to score across the different stages.

McCarthy dominated the first-stage hill climb and it was downhill from there, as she beat out all 21 other finalists.

She opened up a 28-point lead by the end of the first stage – an 8.4km, 24-minute hill climb that featured 554m of elevation.

The Kiwi scored almost the maximum possible points during the second stage, where they were awarded at five checkpoints throughout a 12km loop, pushing her tally to 433.

McCarthy put the competition to bed in the third stage, dominating across the eight short laps.

She totalled 597 points, finishing ahead of Brazil’s Gabriella Guerra, who had 525 points in second, and Italy’s Francesca Tommasi on 478 points in third.

“I was aiming to show what I can do up that first climb and then hopefully hang on for the next two stages,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy’s family was in Abu Dhabi to support her, along with partner and former Olympic cyclist Dylan Kennett.

“It was so cool to have them here,” she said. “They have been watching every race.

“Dad turns up and my partner is there every weekend, and my uncle watches online. It was so good to have them here.”

Racing was online in the qualifying stages, but for the final, the top 22 riders competed in the flesh on stage at the Space42 Arena.

“It adds a different element, because we don’t see each other usually and we don’t get to see what each one looks like, so it is cool to bring it all together and to race each other in person.”

“I am still letting it sink in,” she said, reflecting on back-to-back titles.

“I was just so rapt with last year and with the year I have had, and to get this, I couldn’t have had a better year.”

The winners of both the elite men’s and women’s events receive US$15,000 (NZ$26,579) in prize money.

Former hockey international and Ironman athlete Bridget Kiddle of Marlborough finished 16th in her first trip to the esport world championships.

Christchurch cyclist Ollie Jones – who had been at the forefront of the global growth in esports racing – finished a respectable 10th in the elite men’s event, where Germany’s Jason Osborne won his third straight title.

Fellow New Zealander Michael Vink was forced to withdraw before the competition with illness, despite impressing in qualification.

The esports cycling world champs will once again return to Abu Dhabi in 2026.

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

Kiwi Hayden Wilde has slammed race officials, after he completed an extra bike lap in this morning’s Dubai T100 triathlon.

Wilde finished eighth, after riding nine laps instead of eight on the bike in one of the most chaotic triathlons in recent history.

The result ended Wilde’s winning streak on the world circuit, after he unknowingly added 8km to the cycle section.

He wasn’t the only one involved in the mix-up in the race run by the Professional Triathletes Organisation.

A trio of top athletes accidentally sabotaged their chances.

Approaching the transition, Wilde, Belgian Mathis Margirier and France’s Marten Van Riel rode past the exit, and unknowingly completed an additional loop.

As the confusion ensued, more than 10 athletes ran one lap too few on the final leg.

Wilde told tri-today.com he was incredibly upset his chances had been hit by what he thought was an official blunder.

“They call themselves a professional race organisation,” Wilde said.

Van Riel was also furious, taking to social media to bemoan his loss of of earnings.

“I am honestly quite devastated right now,” van Riel said.

“I not only lost tens of thousands of dollars, but I mostly feel let down by an organisation.”

In the end, Germany’s Mika Noodt stayed calm amid the madness to cross the finish-line first.

With several athletes filing protests – including American Morgan Pearson and those who unintentionally over-biked – officials conducted a formal review.

Final race places were based on each athletes position at the completion of the seventh lap of the eight-loop run course.

That was deemed the last point with consistent and verifiable timing.

The standings were repeatedly reshuffled, with Pearson eventually declared the champion.

Triathlon is becoming an increasingly crowded landscape with World Triathlon, Challenge Ironman and the Professional Triathletes Organisation all running their own race series and world championships.

Final Placings

1. Morgan Pearson

2. Mika Noodt

3. Gregory Barnaby

4. Jason West

5. Vincent Luis

6. Sam Dickinson

7. Jonas Schomburg

8. Hayden Wilde

9. Filipe Azevedo

10. Pieter Heemeryck

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Black Caps take on the West Indies at Hagley Oval in Christchurch for the first match in their one-day series.

They’ll then play at McLean Park in Napier on Wednesday.

First ball at Hagley is at 2pm.

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

France defeated Fiji 34-21 in Bordeaux in their rugby test match on Sunday morning, scoring four tries in the process.

That means the islanders have lost two of their matches on their current three-match Europe tour, having lost to England in Twickenham last weekend.

Fiji were in the game early in the second spell, holding France to 21-all at one point, following their third try by winger Jiuta Wainiqolo, who plays for Lyon.

But mistakes and a number of penalties punished them severely, as French fullback Thomas Ramos made use of those chances with successful attempts.

Unfortunate for Fiji, a possible late try by Jiuta Wainiqolo was thwarted by Thomas in the 77th minute when he tapped a back pass from Wainiqolo on the line, with Pita Gus Sowakula in support.

Ramos was sent off with a yellow card for his action but the penalty try was not given, something Fijian captain Tevita Ikanivere pointed to post-match.

France led 21-14 at halftime, after scoring three tries.

That started with Nicolas Depoortere claiming his five-and-a-half minutes into the half, after the forward pack had mauled their way toward the Fijian line.

Two more tries came through Julien Marchand in the 13th and Charles Ollivon in the 18th as the hosts raced to an early 21-0 in the first quarter of the game.

That spell saw Fijian winger Selesitino Ravutaumada yellow-carded for an accidental shoulder hit on Depoortere’s head in a tackle and Caleb Muntz missing a penalty attempt and not getting touch from a penalty option.

But the islanders did not let go, throwing the ball around and mixing it upfront with the French forwards as well, led by captain Tevita Ikanivere.

Centre Kalaveti Ravouvou crashed his way through for Fiji’s first try in the 27th minute after his wing partner Jiuta Wainiqolo had ran the ball hard toward the French defence.

Flyhalf Muntz took a tackle and offloaded to halfback Kuruvoli, who flicked an inside pass back to Ravouvou.

Ravouvou burst through to score in-between the posts and Kuruvoli’s conversion saw Fiji trail 21-7.

Ravutaumada made amends for his earlier yellow card in the 39th minute when he also busted his way through tacklers to dive in over the line.

Kuruvoli, who had taken over the conversion duties from Muntz, kicked the extra point, as France led 21-14 at halftime.

What they said

France’s Ollivon said after the game Fiji was strong and they had a tough match.

“Very strong game against Fiji, they are always tough,” he said post-match.

The Six Nations champions lost last weekend to world champions South Africa.

Number eight Gregory Alldritt said they were happy.

“Fiji is a real good team and they [are] improving week after week and they showed it tonight.”

They play Australia next week.

Flying Fijian captain Tevita Ikanivere said they let themselves down with their own mistakes and discipline.

“We are gutted,” he said post-match.

“We think we had them, but discipline let us down again. We fell short and we will learn from it as we move towards Spain and try and win.

“We’ve got the courage and the firepower to take any team in the world.”

Ikanivere said they will need to work on their mistakes as they work on meeting Spain next week.

Head coach Mick Byrne said the team let France in early, but added they will improve.

“We just didn’t win a couple of set pieces and once we got moving we were doing all right.

“We worked really hard and they worked very hard off the field and there’s been a big improvement in the last 18 months.”

Decisive second half

Fiji started strongly in the second half after Wainiqolo scored in the corner, with Kuruvoli levelling the scores with his conversion at 21-all.

France took advantage of penalties awarded to them as Ramos kicked three points in the 48th minute, to lead 24-21.

He further added another three points in the 55th minute, after Josua Tuisova was ruled offside.

In the last quarter former England Under-20 Tim Hoty made his debut for the Flying Fijians, joining Atunaisa Sokobale, as the new prop pairing.

But the French made sure of the victory in front of their home fans in the 70th minute when Depoortere claimed his second try.

While the Fijians made a late surge through Wainiqolo, the hosts held on to claim the win, shifting focus to next weekend against the Wallabies in Paris.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Scott Robertson has been left ruing a bad All Black habit that cost them in their 33-19 loss to England at Twickenham. Once again, his side found it difficult to score in the second half, as England racked up 25 unanswered points to take the game away for the eventual victory in front of 82,000 spectators.

“No, because if I did that wouldn’t happen,” said Robertson, half-jokingly, when asked about if he could put his finger on the All Blacks’ issues.

“We’ve tried a lot training and to educate ourselves as much as we possibly can around what it takes to keep the momentum, keep pressure on teams. Obviously hasn’t happened, so it’s a little bit frustrating.”

The All Blacks looked to have taken control of the test in the first half thanks to tries to Leicester Fainga’anuku and Codie Taylor but were pegged back by adjustments to the English game plan and a man of the match performance by George Ford.

“The last couple of games we had finished quite well. But tonight we didn’t do that,” said Robertson.

“I think England were pretty efficient when they got into our half and creating and coming away with points. And they probably had a few more entries into our half. George Ford was pretty accurate with that drop goal and, keeping that scoreboard sort of ticking over. We actually had limited opportunities in that second half, and they probably kicked pretty well.”

Taylor’s second half yellow card was costly for the All Blacks, however both Robertson and captain Scott Barrett had no issues with the call by the team of officials.

“I think it’s fair, it’s an impulse thing. I guess from a momentum point of view, it’s probably been underlying frustration that you just put the hand in the cookie jar,” said Barrett.

“Oh look, it’s cynical, isn’t it? And you’re trying to get it out of the game and (World Rugby) are going pretty hard, right? They want to sanction all those little plays…it cost us,” said Robertson.

Robertson confirmed that Cam Roigard had to leave the game with a low ankle strain, which he tried to run off without success after halftime.

“We had a few dings early in the piece and had to make changes that we trying to leave till the back end…but that’s footy.”

The All Blacks are expected to name a much-changed side for next weekend’s tour finale in Cardiff against Wales. The Welsh had dramatic, last minute 24-23 win over Japan at Principality Stadium, their first victory under new coach Steve Tandy as they seek to arrest a steep decline in form over the last few years.

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