This week’s panel features Newstalk ZB Sports News Director Clay Wilson and Freelance Sports Journalist Aidan McLaughlin.

On today's agenda:

• New Zealand Cricket’s bold new move into the United States
• The NRL confirms its 18th team
• Can Auckland FC bring home the chocolates on Sunday?

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Our Australian Correspondent Jim Dolan gives us the latest from the wonderful wide world of Aussie sport. On today’s agenda:

• From zero to hero in just one week
• Lots of players looking for contracts
• And a new trophy in Super Rugby

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The Auckland Tuatara suffered a heartbreaking 111–110 loss to the Taranaki Airs in a tightly contested Sal’s NBL game in New Plymouth on Monday.

They’ll be looking to rebound at home against the second-placed Canterbury Rams.

Dylan Wilkie joined D’Arcy Waldegrave from the Tuatara camp to preview the upcoming clash.

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The Dettol Northern League heads into Round 7 with a full slate of matches taking place across the northern regions of the North Island - including Northland, Auckland, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty.

Former All White and football commentator Chris Milicich joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview all the upcoming action.

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Warriors coach Andrew Webster is waxing lyrical about the performance of second rower Kurt Capewell in their 26-12 Anzac Day win over the Newcastle Knights in Christchurch.

It's the Warriors' fifth win of the season, taking them to third on the NRL ladder.

Webster says the left edge performed brilliantly, with Ali Leiataua and Capewell getting try assists.

Former Kiwi's Captain Richie Barnett joined D'Arcy to review the impressive win in the 03.

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Auckland FC coach Steve Corica is well aware of the potential history that beckons at Mt Smart this coming Sunday.

No New Zealand team has lifted silverware in a major Australian league, but the Black Knights are on track to buck that trend by winning the A-League's Premiers Plate.

Corica says a draw or win over Perth to snare the trophy would be a massive achievement, but the big prize is still to be won.

Auckland FC defender Francis De Vries joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview Sunday's match up.

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Confidence from the Crusaders they’ll be able to manage without the services of 64-test Wallaby James O'Connor in tonight's Super Rugby derby against the Highlanders in Dunedin.

Rivez Reihana will start at ten for the first time this season, having suffered an ankle injury early in the campaign.

With O'Connor resting, outside back Will Jordan is excited for Reihana to get a run.

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And the Blues got flogged by the Reds.

This fixture should be known as the Purple Smash, as that is what happens when blue and red collide. Last night that wasn't the case, as the Reds turned up in an ocular nightmare of strip, maroon, and dirty gold.

Besides almost confirming that the Blues title defence aspirations are essentially shredded, last night's exchange underlined to the competition two very important aspects of Super Rugby Pacific:

1. New Zealand teams are either struggling to travel to Australia, or home advantage in 2025 is more important than we thought.

2. If you tackle a player and lift them past the horizontal, you’ll take a skate. 10 minutes, or the rest of the match.

It is one of the stranger stats this year that NZ teams can’t roll Aussie sides over there. Yes, the sample size is limited due to the nature of the draw, but the former easy beats of the comp are no longer cannon fodder in their own backyard. Funny what happens when the talent pool is concentrated.

Does the same apply in reverse, now that Moana Pacifica are watering down the NZ based talent pool? Australia lost a team and went from five teams down to four, New Zealand essentially took the opposite route, increasing from five teams to six. It’s notable that the Blues, the Hurricanes, the Highlanders, and Moana Pacifica have only notched 3 wins apiece so far.

Coincidence or correlation?

On the tackle, Tele’a ran afoul of the law with his aggressive tip on Tim Ryan and was walked for 10, until closer examination upgraded him to red and that basically condemned the Blues to another defeat.

A touch unfair? Possibly, but as a I often tell my 14 year old daughter, control your own narrative. If you don't give someone the opportunity to wreck your day, they can’t. If you tackle someone, don't go through the horizontal, don’t give officials the means to walk you. Because they will.

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