The All Blacks faced their first loss of the South Africa tour on Sunday as the Springboks held them off to win 33 - 26. 

But, Newstalk ZB lead rugby commentator Elliott Smith isn't concerned. 

"I think this is what we expected out of the series, Mike, a ding dong battle, and that's exactly what we've got," he told Mike Hosking.

LISTEN ABOVE 

The All Blacks faced their first loss of the South Africa tour on Sunday as the Springboks held them off to win 33 - 26.&nbsp;
But, Newstalk ZB lead rugby commentator Elliott Smith isn't concerned.&nbsp;
"I think this is what we expected out of the series, Mike, a ding dong battle, and that's exactly what we've got," he told Mike Hosking.
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...

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Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB rugby commentator on All Blacks loss

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b8cb3676-6c48-4f6a-a5db-b4b6014e8c48/transcript

With the period of digestion now complete, I think it is more than fair to suggest that the Labour Party's fiscal plan has been marked a failure. 

This is not just me, but as far as I can read virtually every journalist and commentator, including economists, say so. 

This politically should be a disaster. Economic credibility, this election in particular, is everything. 

The election's almost sole vote swinging or determining issue is: who do you think can run the economy better? 

Has the Government done enough to convince you they have stopped the bleeding and a path to better days is in front of us? Or do Labour have an alternative plan that appeals enough to you to give them your vote? 

In that last bit is their biggest problem. By looking to be as close to National as possible, they have stuck to the $2.4 billion new money annually. They have promised the same surplus target, and they've more broadly promised debt reduction over time. 

So, ironically, there's not really any reason to vote for them given it's no different. 

But what has undone them is no one can square away the head room, the $10 billion, and the equity bill that’s coming. 

Even if it sits within the $10 billion that means nothing left for anything outside health, which is partly covered by the CGT. 

Police, defence, cost of living, teacher's strikes – there is no money. So they have bagged the Government for austerity and yet offer the same thing, if not worse. 

Not one person has made it work arithmetically. They have snookered themselves. 

The PREFU came and went. The fiscal plan came and went. Those who quite rightly were suspicious that there was something not right with all the Labour reassurances that it would all be explained, all add up and all make sense, have been proven correct. 

At the very, very best there are a lot of questions left unanswered. But it's more probable, in reality, that it was always a con that they were hoping you wouldn’t ask too many questions about. 

But they made such a song and dance about the big reveal that when it finally came, the snake oil almost drowned us. 

With the period of digestion now complete, I think it is more than fair to suggest that the Labour Party's fiscal plan has been marked a failure.&nbsp;
This is not just me, but as far as I can read virtually every journalist and commentator, including economists, say so.&nbsp;
This politically should be a disaster. Economic credibility, this election in particular, is everything.&nbsp;
The election's almost sole vote swinging or determining issue is: who do you think can run the economy better?&nbsp;
Has the Government done enough to convince you they have stopped the bleeding and a path to better days is in front of us? Or do Labour have an alternative plan that appeals enough to you to give them your vote?&nbsp;
In that last bit is their biggest problem. By looking to be as close to National as possible, they have stuck to the $2.4 billion new money annually. They have promised the same surplus target, and they've more broadly promised debt reduction over time.&nbsp;
So, ironically, there's not really any reason to vote for them given it's no different.&nbsp;
But what has undone them is no one can square away the head room, the $10 billion, and the equity bill that’s coming.&nbsp;
Even if it sits within the $10 billion that means nothing left for anything outside health, which is partly covered by the CGT.&nbsp;
Police, defence, cost of living, teacher's strikes – there is no money. So they have bagged the Government for austerity and yet offer the same thing, if not worse.&nbsp;
Not one person has made it work arithmetically. They have snookered themselves.&nbsp;
The PREFU came and went. The fiscal plan came and went. Those who quite rightly were suspicious that there was something not right with all the Labour reassurances that it would all be explained, all add up and all make sense, have been proven correct.&nbsp;
At the very, very best there are a lot of questions left unanswered. But it's more probable, in reality, that it was always a con that they were hoping you wouldn’t ask too many questions about.&nbsp;
But they made such a song and dance about the big reveal that when it finally came, the snake oil almost drowned us.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Labour's fiscal plan is a failure

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/81942f09-1683-40ff-84c8-b4da016c9357/transcript

Retired Supercars legend Garth Tander knows better than most the Bathurst 1000 is won with a mix of skill, strategy and timing. 

The six-time winner, and reigning champion alongside Kiwi Matthew Payne, believes there's a four step process to give yourself the best chance to conquer Mount Panorama. 

However, Tander says that the track has a mind of its own across 1000 kilometres and distributes luck and pain in equal measure. 

He told Mike Hosking it doesn't matter how fast your car is and how good your form is, if it's not your day, it's not your day.  

Tander's also handed down a glowing comparison of Matthew Payne as the Kiwi driver prepares to defend his Bathurst title this weekend.  

He says Payne is building an ability he's only seen in another Kiwi teammate he combined with to win the Great Race twice before: Shane van Gisberg. 

"Shane has this, had this, and still does, has this incredible ability to slow everything down in the car and have extra capacity to think on the run, and Matt's certainly developing that now." 

"He's got all the makings of, you know, being another great Kiwi that we, you guys always seem to send over to Australia." 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Retired Supercars legend Garth Tander knows better than most the Bathurst 1000 is won with a mix of skill, strategy and timing.&nbsp;
The six-time winner, and reigning champion alongside Kiwi Matthew Payne, believes there's a four step process to give yourself the best chance to conquer Mount Panorama.&nbsp;
However, Tander says that the track has a mind of its own across 1000 kilometres and distributes luck and pain in equal measure.&nbsp;
He told Mike Hosking it doesn't matter how fast your car is and how good your form is, if it's not your day, it's not your day. &nbsp;
Tander's also handed down a glowing comparison of Matthew Payne as the Kiwi driver prepares to defend his Bathurst title this weekend. &nbsp;
He says Payne is building an ability he's only seen in another Kiwi teammate he combined with to win the Great Race twice before: Shane van Gisberg.&nbsp;
"Shane has this, had this, and still does, has this incredible ability to slow everything down in the car and have extra capacity to think on the run, and Matt's certainly developing that now."&nbsp;
"He's got all the makings of, you know, being another great Kiwi that we, you guys always seem to send over to Australia."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Garth Tander: Retired Supercars champion and Bathurst legend on his career, new biography 'The Finish Line'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3672e4f0-8d82-4086-9714-b4da01671f68/transcript

In 2025, author and former UK politician Jeffrey Archer joined Mike Hosking to chat about the final stage of his writing career. 

He's now died at age 86, his publisher Harper Collins saying he died suddenly and peacefully at home.  

At the time, Archer was in the midst of writing his final book, though he had no plans to step back from writing as a whole, telling Hosking he plans on short stories and perhaps a screenplay.  

“This book is, frankly, bigger than ‘Kane and Abel’ as a story,” he said.  

“I’ve got to see if I’ve been able to write it, and frankly, I won’t want to follow it.” 

Said book, titled 'Adam and Eve', is set to be released this month. 

LISTEN ABOVE

In 2025, author and former UK politician Jeffrey Archer joined Mike Hosking to chat about the final stage of his writing career.&nbsp;
He's now died at age 86, his publisher Harper Collins saying he died suddenly and peacefully at home. &nbsp;
At the time, Archer was in the midst of writing his final book, though he had no plans to step back from writing as a whole, telling Hosking he plans on short stories and perhaps a screenplay. &nbsp;
“This book is, frankly, bigger than ‘Kane and Abel’ as a story,” he said. &nbsp;
“I’ve got to see if I’ve been able to write it, and frankly, I won’t want to follow it.”&nbsp;
Said book, titled 'Adam and Eve', is set to be released this month.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

From the Archives: Jeffrey Archer on the final William Warwick book, writing his final novel

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/561c2ca4-b401-4abf-b0a5-b4da0161310d/transcript

Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB rugby commentator on All Blacks loss

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