The All Blacks continue to fend off the 'easy beat' tag around Italy as they begin final preparations for Saturday's Nations Championship test in Wellington. 

Loose forward Luke Jacobson told Mike Hosking the Italians are the most improved international side over the past couple of years. 

He says they’ve tipped up Scotland and England in the Six Nations, and they’re a hugely passionate team who will be keen to try and tip the Kiwi side at home. 

The All Blacks will name their team upon arrival in the capital this afternoon. 

Coach Dave Rennie has confirmed Ardie Savea will play, despite speculation he could be rested following a high workload over the past 18 months. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The All Blacks continue to fend off the 'easy beat' tag around Italy as they begin final preparations for Saturday's Nations Championship test in Wellington.&nbsp;
Loose forward Luke Jacobson told Mike Hosking the Italians are the most improved international side over the past couple of years.&nbsp;
He says they’ve tipped up Scotland and England in the Six Nations, and they’re a hugely passionate team who will be keen to try and tip the Kiwi side at home.&nbsp;
The All Blacks will name their team upon arrival in the capital this afternoon.&nbsp;
Coach Dave Rennie has confirmed Ardie Savea will play, despite speculation he could be rested following a high workload over the past 18 months.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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, 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,...

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Luke Jacobson: All Blacks loose forward ahead of the Nations Championship clash against Italy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/dd34bb96-e144-4b72-8d2e-b48101595a9d/transcript

You may remember that Morgan McSweeney was one of Keir Starmer's fall guys in the Mandelson scandal. 

He ran the Labour Party's 2024 campaign that saw Labour land a comparatively small amount of the vote (37%) in exactly the right places to give them a stonking great majority and end 14 years of Tory rule. 

It ended badly for McSweeney. It's ending badly for Starmer, and a bloke who never got elected by Britain is going to run the place in a few weeks, theoretically for the next three years. 

I tell you this because McSweeney has never spoken before, until now. 

What he says is fascinating. He claims the party didn’t prepare properly for power, didn’t think about how the world had changed since they were last in Government, didn't talk about it enough, and didn't plan, and that's why Starmer was such a disaster. 

What makes it fascinating for us is: 

1) It was Starmer and Labour that Chris Hipkins visited in Liverpool at their conference to get tips. 

2) It's Hipkins and Labour, according to former MP and Speaker Trevor Mallard, who ended up at the Featherston book fair telling exactly the same story about his party. 

So do we have a theme, or a trait? Are Labour groupings essentially lazy, or blind, or arrogant? Or a combination of all three? 

Labour NZ 2017 set a record in working groups because they hadn't prepared for Government. They had nine years to do so. Labour in Britain had 14 years. 

Perhaps as interesting is Peter Dunne's latest column in Newsroom where he reports that the recent Labour congress here was well staged but lacked anything new. Subsidies for apprenticeships are worthy, but dull, and reminds voters of the economic mess Labour last got us into. 

Do labour movements lack imagination? 

The two may be coincidental, but they might not be. Is Labour about simply waiting for the other lot to lose? At their heart, are they not actually up for a bit of hard work and prep? 

New Zealand Labour were jettisoned for a calamitous record. British Labour would be on the verge of it if they didn’t have five-year terms. 

McSweeney, Mallard, and Dunne all tell a similar story. 

If you're a potential Labour supporter here, surely that story is worrying, if not frightening. 

You may remember that Morgan McSweeney was one of Keir Starmer's fall guys in the Mandelson scandal.&nbsp;
He ran the Labour Party's 2024 campaign that saw Labour land a comparatively small amount of the vote (37%) in exactly the right places to give them a stonking great majority and end 14 years of Tory rule.&nbsp;
It ended badly for McSweeney. It's ending badly for Starmer, and a bloke who never got elected by Britain is going to run the place in a few weeks, theoretically for the next three years.&nbsp;
I tell you this because McSweeney has never spoken before, until now.&nbsp;
What he says is fascinating. He claims the party didn’t prepare properly for power, didn’t think about how the world had changed since they were last in Government, didn't talk about it enough, and didn't plan, and that's why Starmer was such a disaster.&nbsp;
What makes it fascinating for us is:&nbsp;
1) It was Starmer and Labour that Chris Hipkins visited in Liverpool at their conference to get tips.&nbsp;
2) It's Hipkins and Labour, according to former MP and Speaker Trevor Mallard, who ended up at the Featherston book fair telling exactly the same story about his party.&nbsp;
So do we have a theme, or a trait? Are Labour groupings essentially lazy, or blind, or arrogant? Or a combination of all three?&nbsp;
Labour NZ 2017 set a record in working groups because they hadn't prepared for Government. They had nine years to do so. Labour in Britain had 14 years.&nbsp;
Perhaps as interesting is Peter Dunne's latest column in Newsroom where he reports that the recent Labour congress here was well staged but lacked anything new. Subsidies for apprenticeships are worthy, but dull, and reminds voters of the economic mess Labour last got us into.&nbsp;
Do labour movements lack imagination?&nbsp;
The two may be coincidental, but they might not be. Is Labour about simply waiting for the other lot to lose? At their heart, are they not actually up for a bit of hard work and prep?&nbsp;
New Zealand Labour were jettisoned for a calamitous record. British Labour would be on the verge of it if they didn’t have five-year terms.&nbsp;
McSweeney, Mallard, and Dunne all tell a similar story.&nbsp;
If you're a potential Labour supporter here, surely that story is worrying, if not frightening.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Labour don't prep for power

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/582fc591-8353-409d-b87b-b48301683d05/transcript

Hard-right politician Nigel Farage is resigning from UK Parliament, only to stand again.  

The Reform Party Leader's running in the Clacton by-election after triggering a vote when he stood down as MP.  

He remains under financial scrutiny for not declaring a £5 million gift, but currently only has joke-candidate Count Binface standing in his way. 

UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking he's sure he'll win, despite the public being sick of him.  

But he says if Farage thinks he's saving democracy and isn't spraying cash – hosting a by-election costs around £2 million. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Hard-right politician Nigel Farage is resigning from UK Parliament, only to stand again. &nbsp;
The Reform Party Leader's running in the Clacton by-election after triggering a vote when he stood down as MP. &nbsp;
He remains under financial scrutiny for not declaring a £5 million gift, but currently only has joke-candidate Count Binface standing in his way.&nbsp;
UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking he's sure he'll win, despite the public being sick of him. &nbsp;
But he says if Farage thinks he's saving democracy and isn't spraying cash – hosting a by-election costs around £2 million.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Enda Brady: UK Correspondent on Reform UK's Nigel Farage triggering a by-election in Clacton amid financial scrutiny

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d1e92723-fb28-4abc-aec2-b48200061786/transcript

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. 

 

The World Cup: 8/10 

Even a person like me who has minimal, if any, interest in football at the best of times is increasingly mesmerised by people like Messi and teams like England. It's why it’s the biggest sport there is. 

 

The Reserve Bank: 5/10 

Read the room poorly. Don't cock up the recovery. They haven't, they may not, but did a fragile state of mind need a dose of bad news?    

 

The NRL TV deal: 8/10 

That’s the story of a well-told story. V'Landys and Co. dream big, sell well, and bank the results. 

 

Wellington: 7/10 

I love you. The airport is close to town, Koji has as good a food as anywhere, and it has architecture Auckland could learn from. I was just there for a night, but it was enough to be back for more. 

 

Trump's crypto: 2/10 

Making money off dummies. One million people have lost $5 billion on Trump crypto. Cool president. 

 

LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW 

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The World Cup: 8/10&nbsp;
Even a person like me who has minimal, if any, interest in football at the best of times is increasingly mesmerised by people like Messi and teams like England. It's why it’s the biggest sport there is.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Reserve Bank: 5/10&nbsp;
Read the room poorly. Don't cock up the recovery. They haven't, they may not, but did a fragile state of mind need a dose of bad news? &nbsp; &nbsp;
&nbsp;
The NRL TV deal: 8/10&nbsp;
That’s the story of a well-told story. V'Landys and Co. dream big, sell well, and bank the results.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Wellington: 7/10&nbsp;
I love you. The airport is close to town, Koji has as good a food as anywhere, and it has architecture Auckland could learn from. I was just there for a night, but it was enough to be back for more.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Trump's crypto: 2/10&nbsp;
Making money off dummies. One million people have lost $5 billion on Trump crypto. Cool president.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW&nbsp;

Mark the Week: The NRL TV deal is a well-told story

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ef6ca548-3eae-48ad-a337-b48101821e4d/transcript

Luke Jacobson: All Blacks loose forward ahead of the Nations Championship clash against Italy

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