Sports Chat for 10 July 2025
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RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Black Sox men off to powerful start at Softball World Cup
The NZ men defeated top-ranked Argentina in seven innings. Photo: WBSC NZ Black Sox have opened their Softball World Cup campaign with back-to-back wins, including a statement victory over world No.1 Argentina. In a passionate seven-inning contest, the NZ men secured a 4-1 win over the South Americans, after defeating hosts Canada 8-3 in their tournament opener. The side qualified for the tournament - hosted at Prince Albert, Canada - last July, under new head coach Thomas Makea, a WBSC and Softball NZ Hall-of-Famer, four-time world champion and three-time NZ Player of the Year. Liam Potts limited the South Americans to just one run. Photo: WBSC Black Sox pitcher Liam Potts delivered an impressive performance against Argentina, holding their strong batting line-up to just one run. Potts was named 2024 Softball NZ Men's Pitcher of the Year, after a standout season with club team Parklands Christchurch United (PCU) and Canterbury Red Sox. He finished the game with an ERA (earned run average) of 0.78. Behind the plate was fellow Red Sox representative and Otago native Cam Watts. Potts said he had to stay locked in the whole way through, using every bit of energy he had. "I had to focus on every pitch," he said. "It's hard, very hard, but we won, so at the end of the day, it's worth it." Black Sox pitcher Liam Potts pitched the side to its second win of the WBSC World Cup, holding the worlds number one ranked side, Argentina, to only 1 run. Photo: WBSC Potts pitched an entire seven innings and he admitted the plan was always for the starting pitcher to go for as long as they could. 'We do it based on how the teams are feeling or how they're looking in the box," he said. "Today, the boys were looking to hit... but today, I had them." He said the run support from his teammates allowed him to pitch with confidence. "The boys were amazing tonight," he said. "They just fired away. "The boys have turned up and there's no better feeling at the moment." Captain Cole Evans grabbed the lead with a centrefield double in the fifth inning. Photo: WBSC New Zealand put their name on the scoreboard first at the top of the second inning, with Rhys Evans doubling down the third-base line to bring Reilly Makea home, after a walk and sacrifice bunt. Argentina levelled the score at the bottom of the inning, after a defensive error put a runner in scoring position and utility infielder Khalil Luna drove to right-field. The score remained 1-1 until the fifth, when momentum shifted. Second basemen Tane Mumu reached second and was brought home, after a throwing error off Seth Gibson's bunt. Team captain Cole Evans followed with a double to centrefield, scoring Gibson and extending the lead to 3-1. In the seventh, Dante Makea-Matakatea led off up the middle, before Gibson brought him home with a drive over leftfield, sealing the game 4-1. New Zealand have won a record seven men's world softball titles. Photo: WBSC New Zealand remain the most decorated team in men's softball, with a record seven world titles, clutching their first in 1976. Now they're chasing an eighth . The Black Sox are the only unbeaten team in Group A and will come up against Venezuela at 8.30am Friday NZT, needing victory to clinch a sport in the Super Round, which begins Saturday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
8 hours ago
- RNZ News
Robertson wants All Blacks to ‘play fast, think fast and adapt fast'
All Blacks v France Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 12 July Sky Stadium, Wellington Live blog updates on RNZ Were the All Blacks caught on the hop by a fired up French team last weekend? Or were the issues on attack of their own making? Scott Robertson is expecting a sharper performance out of his side this Saturday night in a venue where they have struggled for most of the last decade, saying that the up tempo gameplan will continue. "Play fast, think fast and adapt fast. We've got the skill set to do it,' said Robertson at Thursday's team naming press conference. "We know with our players, and you've seen that across the whole pack. And it's exciting thing about it, so we'll keep creating. Like I said the other day, if, if the wind suddenly comes in off the Strait, we'll adapt and play to the wind in the rain as well. But our intention is to use our skills as much as we can." Robertson has largely stuck with the side that won 31-27 in the first test , citing continuity as the main motivator. Timoci Tavatavanawai, who will debut off the bench and replaces Quinn Tupaea, is the only non-injury related change. Timoci Tavatavanawai, of the Highlanders, takes on the Chiefs' defence in their Super Rugby Pacific match in Hamilton on 19 April 2025. Photo: Jeremy Ward/Photosport Patrick Tuipulotu comes into the second row for injured skipper Scott Barrett, while Caleb Clarke comes onto the wing to replace Sevu Reece. That's caused probably the most interesting situation with the side, as it means Rieko Ioane moves over to the right wing - somewhere he's barely played at first class level. "(Rieko) can play either wing. He said to us he can play either wing or centre, so a bit of continuity for him and give me another crack at it." Continuity was also the reason why two of last weekend's most talked about selections were repeated, with Tupou Vaa'i and Billy Proctor both starting at blindside and centre respectively. However, it is fair to say that the selections probably weren't the main issue is a first test that ended up being far closer than anyone thought. The application of a gameplan designed to confuse and frustrate the defence led to a few wrong options being taken, even if it did result in the first All Black win over France in seven years. "We'll go and act on it. So a lot of instinctual like you can see how we set up, across the field to play from anywhere. And if it's on, we'll go." Jordie Barrett and Théo Attissogbe challenge for the ball in the All Blacks' first test against France this season. Photo: Marty Melville / While that's all well and good, the French plan is almost certainly going to be the same as last weekend too. A heavy diet of long kicks designed to force the All Blacks into running into contact on their own side of halfway paid dividends early on, however Robertson anticipates more contestable possession. "With no escorting the air battle is about how to tap back, there's a lot of scraps on the ground and that now it's changed a little bit. So the aerial game is critical, and the French are very, very good at it. You know, you look through their club footy right to test footy, how good their kickers are." The test is sold out, which is a serious statement by the All Blacks and NZ Rugby after plenty of talk in the lead up to this series about the perceived lack of quality of their opposition. Robertson said that the poor results in Wellington - only two wins in their last eight visits - was something the team was hoping to rectify. "The people, the local whenua. We fully respect the Kamate haka, where it comes from (local Wellington iwi Ngāti Toa). I think it's important we understand that the performance and the ability to call it somewhere that we're really proud of and extremely passionate to play, starts every time we get here, every time we play. People are turning up to see a performance they'll be proud of."
RNZ News
8 hours ago
- RNZ News
All Blacks coach makes two injury-enforced changes to side
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has made two injury-enforced changes to his starting side for the second test against France naming one debutant in the process. Meanwhile the Black Ferns have also named their squad for a one off test against Australia in the capital with Ruby Tui a surprise inclusion. Tui has an opportunity to impress before this year's women's World Cup after initially being left out of the Black Ferns squad. RNZ rugby reporter Joe Porter spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
