Weekend Sport with Jason Pine

James McOnie from the Crowd Goes Wild joins Piney to discuss the Olympics, the Super Rugby season and the Black Caps v Australia test. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shane van Gisbergen has finished third in his second race in NASCAR's Xfinity series. The Kiwi finished 0.281 seconds behind winner Austin Hill, who's now won the first two events of the series. Motorsport expert Eric Thompson joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scotland's have retained rugby's Calcutta Cup with a 30-21 win over England at Murrayfield. Ireland now the only unbeaten side after a 31-7 triumph over Wales in Dublin. Scottish rugby expert David Barnes joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's in third after the opening day of the Sydney SailGP leg. The third and final race of day one was the highlight for the Nathan Outteridge-driven boat, posting a victory after a third and fifth. SailGP NZ strategist Liv Mackay joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canterbury's won the men's one-day domestic cricket title by five wickets over Auckland in Christchurch on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Set a rain-reduced target of 206, the hosts got there with five balls to spare after Tom Latham had earlier made 64. Coach Peter Fulton joined ZB's Jason Pine to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former English cricketer Sir Ian Botham has a long-standing history with the sport. Despite his reputation as a cricketing legend, he's set to play at the New Zealand Golf Open next weekend. He joined ZB's Jason Pine to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors have wrapped up their 2024 NRL pre-season campaign. The team ended the season strongly, with a 34-22 victory over the Dolphins in front of 19,000 at Mt Smart stadium. Coach Andrew Webster joined Piney to discuss the victory- and assure him the team won't get carried away. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sail GP has landed in Sydney this weekend. Piney caught up with flight controller Andy Maloney to preview the regatta and to find out what it's like having a new helmsman in Nathan Outteridge. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Paris Olympics are looming, casting a shadow over athletes across every discipline. A new Triathlon World Cup season is underway, carrying even more weight in this Olympic year. Piney caught up with Kiwi triathlete Ainsley Thorpe to chat about what she hopes to gain this season. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Tanner is shaping up for a big year that culminates in the Paris Olympics. He's competing in the International Track meet in Christchurch this week and joined Piney in studio to discuss the big year ahead and the stress of being a professional athlete. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Super Rugby is underway, but it's the off-field stories that are making headlines across the ditch. The Melbourne Rebels and ACT Brumbies are in financial strife, the future of Super Rugby in Australia not looking promising. Piney caught up with our Australian correspondent to discuss what the future holds there, and all the other stories making headlines across the ditch. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite their disappointing loss at Eden Park, there were some bright spots for the Black Caps. Lockie Ferguson shone with the ball, the only bowler on the kiwi team to avoid punishment in the opener. He joined Piney to recap the game and give an insight into what worked allowed him to succeed. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps have fallen to Australia in their T20 series and are now turning their attention to the upcoming Test series. Piney caught up with legend and former Australian captain Ricky Ponting for a chat about the series and get his insight into what the Black Caps need to do to finally beat the Aussies. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby is at a crossroads, with other sports gaining popularity and Rugby Union stuck in the mud. Mark Robinson is about to head to the UK for a 'Shape of the Game' meeting, but before that, he joined Piney to discuss the state of the game in New Zealand LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Piney and Bonnie break down the weekend's action, including the Phoenix men's win over the Bulls and the Football Ferns punching their ticket to the Paris Olympics. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fans will get their first taste of the 2024 Warriors in this afternoon's sold out preseason hit-out against the Wests Tigers in Christchurch. Newstalk ZB sports commentator Nick Bewley joined Piney ahead of the event. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors are set to clash against the Wests Tigers in Christchurch in a highly anticipated NRL preseason trial. Warriors centre Marcelo Montoya looks forward to this opportunity- and he joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert says it's important to find the right balance in coaching kids in sport. Rachin Ravindra, the new young talent taking over the Black Caps, was reportedly trained consistently since he was 4- but is that a realistic outcome? Coaching expert Wayne Goldsmith says it's important to ensure parents don't burn their kids out on sport. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James McOnie from The Crowd Goes Wild joined Piney to recap a full week of stories in the world of sport. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Pine speaks to rugby commentator Jeff McTavish about the upcoming Super Rugby season and predictions for the clubs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wellington Phoenix have had an excellent season so far. They’re sitting at the top of the table with 33 points, Central Coast behind by five at 28. Finn Surman joined Jason Pine for a chat about the Phoenix’s success so far, what’s driving them, and a bit about the upcoming Olympic selections. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breakers star Tom Abercrombie confirmed his retirement a few days ago, bringing an end to a sixteen-year professional career. He planned to retire at the end of the 2023-24 Australian NBL season, but his farewell tour will now extend beyond after the Breakers locked in their spot in the finals on Friday. Tom joined Jason Pine for a chat about the recent wins, and a look into what comes next for the basketball legend. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Halberg Awards, New Zealand’s premiere event recognising and honouring the country’s sporting talent. They’ve been running for 61 years, crowning the top athletes from across the community. Are they still relevant? Jason Pine was joined by the ACC’s Mike Lane and reporter Kate Wells to discuss the relevancy of the awards, and whether they’re worth keeping around. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time for the Black Caps to face a new challenge. They made history by securing a seven wicket win over South Africa, ending their opponents 92-year streak. The Black Caps are now looking ahead to a two-week test series against Australia. Former Black Cap and Cricket Commentator Mark Richardson joined Jason Pine to not only look back at the team’s success against Proteas, but for a discussion about player selections for the upcoming tests. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Piney and Bonnie break down the Football Ferns' 6-0 win over Samoa and the Phoenix men's latest win, taking them five points clear at the top of the A-League men's ladder. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Super Bowl LVIII is expected to start at 12:30 NZT, and advertisers have been ready for kickoff all year. Brands will be bringing in high-profile celebrities and the best effects money can buy in order to lure in doves of prospective buyers. Michigan State University researcher Dr Ayalla Ruvio says brands will be more likely to prioritise the entertainment value of their ads this year. "The economic situation is not that secure, political issues are coming to play, so there's political insecurities both in-home and internationally. This weighs a lot on consumers overall, so this year, I think companies will want to have commercials that are more entertaining." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James McOnie from The Crowd Goes Wild joins Piney to discuss the Super Bowl, Taylor Swift, the Super Rugby preseason, the Six Nations and the possibility of an 'Enhanced Games'. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tomorrow afternoon's (NZT) Super Bowl is predicted to break viewership records all over the US- and globally. The highly anticipated match-up between the San Francisco 49ers and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs will be shown in over 190 countries. SB Nation NFL writer Mark Schofield joined Piney to share his predictions for tomorrow's big game. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could rugby league make the jump into Christchurch? A consortium in the Garden City are hoping to be the 18th expansion franchise tipped to enter the NRL by 2026. Former Canterbury rugby league chair Tony Kidd joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi rugby and league fans can look forward to another dose of free sport on their screens. During the 2024 season, Sky will ensure viewers will have a free NRL match to watch on Friday and a free Super Rugby Pacific match available on Saturday through their Sky Open service. This will begin with the Highlanders v Moana Pasifika match, airing Saturday February 24. Super Rugby Pacific chairman Kevin Malloy says this development will be good news for the competition- and the fans. "I think being able to make Super Rugby available to as many fans as possible can only be good for the competition, and actually for fans as well. It's quite a significant part of what we're trying to do going forward." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The OFC Women’s Olympic Qualifiers are underway as the Football Ferns look to book their ticket to Paris. Piney caught up with Midfielder Macey Fraser to discuss the qualifiers and her rise into the team. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a big year for New Zealand Swimmers. Starting off with the World Championships this week, which for many will double as preparation for the Paris Olympics. Piney caught up with Olympic program lead Gary Francis to chat about what the swim team hopes to achieve at the World Champs in Doha. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australians have taken a different tack than South Africa. The Australians have named a full-strength team to play the Black Caps in the upcoming test series. Adam Peacock joined Piney to break that down and to discuss all the other stories making sports headlines across the ditch. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi Cyclist Corbin Strong has a big year ahead of him, starting with the NZ Elite road nationals. He joined Piney to discuss the year ahead and what he hopes to achieve, and also take a look back on his first Tour De France last year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Breakers stole a big win over the Illawarra Hawks last night, putting themselves firmly in the playoff race of the NBL. Breakers Guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright scored 31 points, leading the team to win 88-85. He joined Piney to discuss his performance and the emotion of the night. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps have put together a strong performance to defeat a weakened South African test side. They won their match by 281 runs, crushing their opponents. Piney caught up with the Black Caps test captain Tim Southee to reflect on the win and the chance for the the team to get their first-ever test series win against the Proteas. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The man who has scored more Test runs and more Test centuries than any other player from New Zealand was always likely to be a childhood star - but Kane Williamson’s first cricket coach says it wasn’t just his ability, but the way he carried himself that set him apart and set him on the course to be our greatest ever. David Johnston worked for Bay of Plenty Cricket for many years and came across a young Williamson playing junior cricket, already making a name for himself. At a regional primary school tournament Johnston told Newstalk ZB’s Jason Pine he witnessed something that told him that Williamson was not only a player of supreme talent, but one that understood and respected the game of cricket. “It was in Gisborne at a Northern Districts primary school tournament, his Dad Brett was coaching them. He’d peeled off three centuries in the first three days so his dad changed the batting order, Kane came in at about eight I think. The team was in pretty serious trouble, maybe six down for not too many. “He proceeded to work his way through and he got to the last partner and I think they might have put on about 60 or 70 for the last wicket - Kane ended up with a hundred.” “As they walked off the field, the players stood to clap Kane and he stood back and let the young guy, who was about three or four not out at the other end, leave the field first because Kane recognised and respected he couldn’t have done that without the young man that had been batting at the other end. That’s just the mark of the boy back then at the age of 12 - and nothing’s changed.” Williamson has become one of the most well-liked and respected cricketers in today’s game and Johnston told Pine it comes down to an insatiable desire to be better - not better than his peers, but better than himself. “His father Brett had coach him in his early years and he’d done a very good job of establishing some pretty strong foundations in his game and once I got involved it was very obvious early on that he was not only quite talented but he had this prodigious desire to improve and I think that’s the greatest thing about Kane.” “The desire to be better and it’s nothing to do with being better than everybody else, it’s just being better than himself. He used to practice harder than anybody else.” “Those who know Kane and those who have thrown cricket balls to him over the years would attest to the fact that nothing’s changed he just loves to practice and loves to become better.” One of the marks of Williamson’s ability is his appearance that things come easy to him when he is batting - Johnston says that wasn’t always the case but that is one of the factors that led to his greatness. “I think his first game for Northern Districts he actually got a pair, playing against Auckland. So as a 16 or 17-year-old batting first drop I think it might have been Andre Adams got him LBW twice. “So right from the start, it didn’t always happen but he had this thirst for improvement, this thirst for knowledge and thirst to be better. He dealt with it a lot better than anybody else and that’s why he’s one of the greats of today’s cricket.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Piney and Bonnie review the latest outings for the Phoenix men and women and also look ahead to a blockbuster Waitangi Day clash and the Football Ferns' Olympic qualifiers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2024 supercars season is set to begin soon, and one under-the-radar team is generating some interest. Grove Racing's Matt Payne joined Piney to discuss the upcoming event. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James McOnie from The Crowd Goes Wild joined Piney to discuss the start of the Six Nations, Blackcaps v Proteas, the deapture of Steven Adams, and the Wellington Phoenix updates. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The contest to be the next Kiwis coach is a two-horse race between two preferred candidates. Seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett and former Test great Stacey Jones are the favourites to take over the role. Former Warriors coach Frank Endacott shares his preferred pick for the role with Piney. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan has condemned the abuse of rugby referees following a recent report by World Rugby. It found that Rugby World Cup referee Wayne Barnes was the most targeted person of social media slander at the tournament, picking up a third of all abuse aimed at individuals. Ryan says the findings in the report were 'disgusting' to read- and this problem needs to be cracked down on. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A promise to protect rugby's match officials from online abuse. It comes after a World Rugby report found referees were the fourth most targeted group at last year's Rugby World Cup. Prominent official Wayne Barnes picked up a third of vitriol aimed at individuals by the end of the 2023 event. World Rugby boss Alan Gilpin says protecting match officials from online abuse is crucial towards keeping and maintaining top talent. "We need to reassure them that the sport's taking their own protection seriously, so that's absolutely important." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wellington Phoenix continue to sit atop the A-League table after a one-all draw against the Brisbane Roar. Piney caught up with Former Phoenix and Roar player Karl Dodd to discuss the rise of the Wellington Phoenix, going back to the early days of the club. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ACC has joined forces with seven national sporting organizations in an attempt to mitigate head trauma. They've announced the new National Concussion Guidelines for Community Sport, and to find out what this all means Piney was joined by Medical Director at New Zealand Football, Dr Mark Fulcher. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been another big weekend for Australian sport. Adam Peacock joined Piney to dig into it all, including Mitchell Marsh being awarded the Allan Border Medal, Wayne Bennett throwing his hat in the ring to coach the Kiwis, and the Socceroos disappointing outing at the Asian Cup, LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Black Caps prepare for the upcoming test series against the Proteas, questions have been raised about the team they’re playing against. The Proteas have sent an inexperienced team, leaving their big names in South Africa to play in the SA20 league. Piney caught up with ESPNcricinfo’s Firdose Moonda to discuss what this means for test cricket, and whether this Proteas team stands a chance against the Black Caps. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe takes a pragmatic view of the criticism he faced following his performance with the whistle in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. In particular, French captain Antoine Dupont made his feelings known following his side’s one-point loss at the hands of the Springboks - he thought O’Keeffe made far too many mistakes. “There’s a lot of frustration and disappointment. If we look again at some of the decisions maybe there will be even more. I don’t want to sound like a bitter person who complains about the refereeing, but I’m not sure the refereeing was at the highest level tonight,” said Dupont. What followed was an outcry from French rugby fans both attending the World Cup via boos each time O’Keeffe was mentioned and the inevitable keyboard warriors who took anonymously to social media to vent their displeasure. Speaking with Newstalk ZB’s Jason Pine, O’Keeffe acknowledged the intensity of the situation and understands how the French supporters and players must have felt. “I sort of took it on the chin really, didn’t I? I understood the situation, the environment. The host nation, a team that was up there either one or two in the world, expected to win, expected to make it to the final lost a one-point quarter final. A game of rugby definitely is grey in terms of some of the decisions that you make, we’re never perfect as referees.” O’Keeffe said he knew before the match that either way it went he and his team were likely to cop some heat. "Leading in to the game I knew there was going to be pressure. I knew that depending on how either team lost there was going to be a focus or a spotlight on the refereeing team and because I was in the middle, myself. I just had to take that and really review my game properly. “A lot of that was emotional, I understand. They had a big focus on trying to go really deep into that tournament and it would have been to be able to lose in those circumstances by one point and that’s the role of the referee, we’re never going to be congratulated after the game but if that’s our expectation as a referee I think we’re in the wrong business.” In dealing with the fallout following France’s exit from the tournament, O’Keeffe doesn’t blame French fans for their reaction and says the next two weeks in Paris were a learning experience for him. “I took a lot out of it in terms of how I normally review myself, my game. Obviously there was a lot of continued criticism, you someone who’s respected so much like Anton Dupont is, the whole country sort of follows his lead. I just had to understand what the environment was, what the situation was. It was a little bit uncomfortable the next two weeks in France, in Paris being in public and that but it was an experience that has made me stronger as a referee and has allowed me to go to another level in terms of what I want to add to the game.” The 38-test referee says he feels it is a collective effort that is what is required to shake off the negative aspects that surround rugby union in order for the game to grow. “If you look at the key stakeholders in a game; players are one, coaches are one, spectators and referees and I think we all need to be working together as a team to grow the sport, the game that we love. “Times will change, both sides will look back on that experience and I know that we can do things differently and I hope that next time I referee France in the future, whether it’s away or at home we can just get back to enjoying the spectacle.” -Will Toogood, NZ HeraldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Piney and Bonnie break down victories for both the Wellington Phoenix men and women, including high drama at Porirua Park and Oskar Zawada's goalscoring return. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite a shaky performance against Pakistan, New Zealand's U-19 cricket team are hopeful ahead of the super sixes stage of the World Cup. Captain Oscar Jackson joined Piney to discuss what the team learned ahead of their upcoming match. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.