In this week's newsletter, Scotty discusses the Football Ferns' coaching troubles, a humble Warriors side and India's victory at the T20 Cricket World Cup.
Ferns shambles a poster child for player power
New Zealand Football must be wondering what their next move is following the decision for coach Jitka Klimkova to stand down for the Paris Olympics. Klimkova has been the subject of an ongoing investigation into an “employment-related matter” since May but was cleared to return to the side after missing recent matches against Japan and Spain.
The official investigation, first conducted by New Zealand Football and subsequently continued with input from the Professional Footballers’ Association, cleared Klimkova to return to the side on the proviso a restorative process was in place to repair relationships between players and staff. The process would be overseen by independent facilitators, but that has not been enough to assuage the players, nor has it been enough to convince the coach that the relationships are repairable.
This is genuinely murky territory. No one is any clearer on the nature of the incident (or incidents) that led to the initial investigation, and no one is any clearer now on what part of the restorative process has failed. One thing is clear: this issue has been festering within the side for at least the last nine months, which would take us back to the end of the Football World Cup in New Zealand last year.
Another thing is almost certain: a select group of players has been leading the charge against their coach. New Zealand Football, having cleared Klimkova to return to the team, are in an unenviable position. Klimkova was appointed for a six-year term in 2021 and if NZF decide to back the concerns of their players, they will likely be forced to fork out for the remainder of that deal. If they decide to back their coach, the players are likely to fight back.
Whatever the next move, the Ferns’ Olympic campaign is unlikely to last longer than the group stage, thus opening the door, potentially, for more than one exit.
Speaking of Football, don’t forget TVNZ+ and DUKE have LIVE and FREE coverage of the Euros as the Round of 16 continues.
Warriors stay humble after bucking broncos
Te Maire Martin was not getting ahead of himself after the Warriors brushed off a torrid week to dispatch the Broncos at Mt Smart on Saturday. Last week’s 66-6 battering by the Titans felt like a distant memory as the home side controlled the tempo from the get-go on a damp and dreary night, scoring six tries en route to a 32-16 win.
Martin, who scored a try and was again electric in the number seven jersey alongside halves partner Chanel Harris-Tavita, told reporters after the match that he hadn’t felt any extra pressure to perform, and cautioned against the team celebrating too hard after defeating a Broncos team shorn of its origin stars.
Still, there was reason for fans to celebrate the return of Martin to the play maker role. Martin continues to shine for this team and looks tailor-made to guide them around the park. The combination with Harris-Tavita looks as unhurried as it does effective. The Warriors thrive on the chaos the pair create, and that same pair knows how to make the most of the metre-eating forwards who plugged away mercilessly all night. To wit, Barnett, Fonua-Blake and Walker combined for 49 carries and 490 run metres.
While it is unfortunate that Martin’s time comes at the expense of the ailing Shaun Johnson (as it did last season), there is now an undeniable body of evidence to suggest the 28-year-old has cracked the Warriors code. His unruffled nature is perfect for a side that has repeatedly backed itself into tight corners this season. Each time, it has been Martin who has led the way out.
Another stern test awaits this weekend when the Warriors travel to face top-eight side, the Bulldogs, but there is a humble confidence that comes with the fully fit Martin and it’s one that feels infectious to the group.
All Blacks set tone, now for the show
New All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has managed to navigate his first few days in charge with a promised and customary onslaught of positivity. From the team naming at which Robertson admitted to a preference for going “off the cuff”, to the wonderful school assembly weirdness of the team’s first full gathering at the NZCIS base in Upper Hutt, to the decision to publicise his theme of “Together We Walk”, it has been the Razor Ray Hour. And it’s been a refreshing change.
For anyone who has followed the All Blacks for any length of time, there is a clear distinction between this management group and those of the last decade. Winning the battle off the field is important to Robertson, and it’s important to the health of the team. In Robertson’s view, a united fan base is the charge that provides the energy to perform.
Some others took that for granted and, as recent comments from former coach Sir Steve Hansen about the treatment of his chosen successor, Ian Foster, suggests, it is easy to become convinced that the job comes with a golden throne before which all others must genuflect. Robertson is under no illusions. He has a track record of marrying personality with performance and despite a rise in class for this challenge, is adamant he can bring that level of authenticity to the international arena.
All that said, there will be little leeway given if Robertson’s All Blacks fall at the first hurdle. Foster was cast aside by New Zealand Rugby after a string of unwanted records, but the fans had turned long before the axe fell. Foster showed immense character to take the All Blacks to within a point of a world cup triumph. That is clear and worthy of acknowledgement.
England are not to be taken lightly. Coach Steve Borthwick has overseen a definite improvement from the desultory side he inherited from Eddie Jones, and it’s a team that appears to believe in its purpose and playbook. A number of New Zealand’s potential starters in this first Test will be lacking game time under pressure, and there is still much to be uncovered about the way the All Blacks’ combinations will settle into a game plan that is likely to demand plenty of lung capacity.
The tone is there, which comes as no surprise. Now fans will demand the show.
Lawson waits as Red Bull confirms contract time frame
New Zealand fans may be convinced Liam Lawson’s time in Formula 1 has come, but as RB CEO Peter Bayer has made clear, he won’t be rushed into a decision on the future of Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo, who ostensibly sits between Lawson and a fulltime drive.
RB, the development team beneath Red Bull, has already filled one seat for the 2025 season, announcing the re-signing of Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda who this weekend found himself the subject of a Steward’s inquiry after using a “disability slur” on the team radio during qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix. Tsunoda qualified 14th while Ricciardo managed the 11th fastest time.
Bayer has said no decision will be made on Ricciardo and, by extension, Lawson, until the series takes its summer break. That means the Australian still has at least four races to convince bosses he is the best option of the team, despite the mounting pressure from the likes of Dr Helmut Marko – Red Bull’s chief advisor and long-time proponent of Lawson – to replace the 34-year-old.
It is an intriguing time for the young Kiwi who is already ensconced in the RB team as its test driver. Lawson got a first taste of F1 action at the Dutch and Italian Grand Prixs last season when Ricciardo suffered a race injury, but he has been resigned to simulator duties since. Marko argues it is time for the team to put Lawson in now. RB argues Ricciardo is the better option as an experienced mentor to Tsunoda, whose connections with Honda appear to be strong enough to make up for four seasons of underwhelming results.
Lawson’s ability may not be the deciding factor here. Instead, his future could well rest on the result of a political and ego-driven battle of wills between Marko and Bayer.
India won and India wins
In a way, the final felt like an act of mercy after inarguably one of the strangest world cups ever staged. From the grounds of Nassau and Dallas to the rains of the Caribbean, the entire event has carried with it an air of a Willy Wonka experimental confection, minus naughty German kids being sucked up a chocolate pipe to the cautionary refrain of an Oompa Loompa choir.
India won, and India won. India, the team, beat South Africa in a half decent final, punctuated by a medical intervention for Rishabh Pant at the conclusion of the 16th over with the momentum very much in the Proteas' favour. Heinrich Klaasen (52) tried to get back in the rhythm after the injury break by hammering Hardik Pandya’s first delivery of the 17th over through the covers. He managed only to nick off to Pant and from there, India shut down the chase.
In fairness to Pant, the man’s knee was mangled in a car accident in February so his literal taking of a knee was more defendable than Afghani Gulbadin Naib’s absurd collapse against Bangladesh.
India won, and India won. India, the country that controls T20 franchise cricket, got a dream final between the IPL and the SA T20 nations. Needless to say both competitions are controlled by the same ownership cabal. As is Major League Cricket, which might explain why the tournament was staged there in the first place.
What's ahead this week
EUROS: All the reaction from England v Slovakia and an eye on the remaining matches in the Round of 16.
RUGBY: Expect plenty of build up as the All Blacks get set for their first Test of the season in Dunedin. Our rugby experts will have all the latest as preparations continue.
CRICKET: The White Ferns continue their tour of England with the second ODI having been played this morning. We’ll analyse the performance and the result.
RUGBY: The New Zealand under-20 side and the Māori All Blacks both recorded wins over the weekend. We’ll follow up with both teams as their respective tours continue.
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