Our sports commentator Tumamao Harawira
is here to talk sports.
Is this the first time you've returned this year?
Yes, yes.
It's good to have you back.
we're happy to have you back
because I know you've got all the info on Super Rugby!
First of all, Blues versus Waratahs, Rieko Ioane is out,
but his brother Akira is in,
what do you think - Blues for the win?
I think so.
Most of the discussion around the Blues' pre-season
were to do more with off-field things,
some to do with Rieko Ioane, who's now off with a fractured hand.
We're hearing all these issues.
Now his brother Akira Ioane has returned.
But if we go back to their game against the Chiefs,
even though they lost,
I think we saw they've turned a corner.
The forwards were a lot stronger,
that was a big change this year compared to last year.
Otere Black is on his way back -
my Blues team have all the Hurricanes first-fives now!
So thank you Wellington!
Yeah, but what are they going to do!
Have to give it up to you for staying true to your team
and your belief that they have the potential
to do better this year.
But the two teams everyone is expecting to be on top
at the end of the season
are the Crusaders and the Chiefs,
who play each other tomorrow night,
who do think will come out on top?
Crusaders, without a doubt.
Even with a new squad down there-
Richie Mo'unga won't be playing tomorrow...?
That's no issue -
what I saw in the Crusaders first game,
they had seven All Blacks missing,
and still their opponents had no chance.
Every year they're...
They're amazing...?
Yeah, that's just the Crusaders.
I'm impressed with what Warren Gatland has done
in recent months.
Aaron Cruden has returned to the Chiefs,
but this Crusaders team have already set a high benchmark
for all the other teams to chase.
I've got a lot of love for the Crusaders,
but I think tomorrow night the Chiefs will win.
To the NRL All Stars now,
Indigenous All Stars vs our Maori All Stars.
The big news out of Australia,
they won't be playing the Australian national anthem
at this year's game. Thoughts?
There's Colin Kaepernick in America,
and now Latrell Mitchell in Australia.
And I wholeheartedly agree with the Indigenous players.
We know the situation that indigenous Australians are in,
I'm not at all surprised at their views on it.
Indigenous league players
are like gods to the Indigenous community,
just like African-Americans in America.
If Latrell Mitchell says
he doesn't want to sing the national anthem,
that will be instilled in the young Indigenous kids
and we'll see things change in generations to come.
Thanks for sharing those great words, Tumamao Harawira.
That's a great note to leave our discussion today.
Thank you.