This week’s panel features Rugby Writer Jamie Wall and Gold Sport Rugby Commentator Paul Allison. On the agenda this weekend:

• Team New Zealand announces Naples, Italy, will host 38th edition in 2027
• Blues vs Moana Pasifika - grandstand sell out!
• Can Auckland FC get the job done?

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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:

• A Superstar is about to meet his idol
• Two of Australia’s best compete in this weekend's Super Rugby clash

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Round 2 of the ANZ Premiership opens with the highly anticipated Grand Final rematch between the Northern Mystics and Central Pulse. The last time these teams met, the Mystics took the 2024 Premiership title by a narrow one goal margin.

This afternoon the Pulse will head to Auckland with a point to prove, aiming to cement themselves at the top of the table.

Mystics midcourter Tayla Earle joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview the clash.

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The Black Ferns are determined to tidy up their discipline in a bid to avoid back-to-back defeats to Canada in Christchurch.

The two teams meet again this afternoon at the same venue of Canada's only ever win over New Zealand in women's rugby.

The Black Ferns gave away 15 penalties in last week's win over Australia.

Liana Mikaele-Tu'u joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview the clash.

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Strong travelling support's motivating Auckland FC for the away leg of their A League semifinal against Melbourne Victory tonight.

Fans have been seen and heard across Australia this season - a big group were at last month's fixture in Melbourne in the league.

Logan Rogerson out of the AKFC camp joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview their clash.

Kick-off's at 9:35pm.

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Moana Pasifika have released an additional two-and-a-half thousand tickets for Saturday's Super Rugby derby with the Blues at North Harbour Stadium.

They've sold out the grandstand, after a breakout year in the Super competition.

Blues First Five Harry Plummer joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss Moana's success and their new cross-town rivals.

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Can the fairy tale continue? The page turning epic that has become Auckland FC’s debut season is closing in on the final chapter. What started out as a wonderful picture-book story of a plucky youngster, the second born of two Kiwi teams in the A-League, striving to do their best as the new kid on the block, has developed into a Roy of the Rovers style graphic novel.

Heroes have been made, stands have been full, chants have evolved, the media has added extra carriages to the band wagon, the Port supporters' mob have become the envy of other sporting teams. The black and blue jerseys have taken centre stage as a symbol of Auckland footballing pride in a city that has regularly chewed through and spat out any thought of a footballing foothold.

What started as a pipe dream has materialised. They have a fanbase. They have results. They have silverware. It looks like they’ll have their very own shiny new stadium soon too. They should have a women’s team – the sooner the better. They play a brand of football that beckons eyes to the game.

They are the poster child of the league.

Auckland FC are tantalisingly close to closing their book as the sporting story of New Zealand and some say regardless of the semifinal and or final results, they have done enough to call their first foray into the world of pro football a success.

But y’know, they haven’t.

What the team has achieved will all fade into fogged oblivion if they can’t bring it home.

Tough call? Hell no. They’ll be thinking exactly the same thing, if they aren’t they can’t call themselves true professionals.

This fairy tale shouldn’t be a Grimm Brothers reminder of the frailty of a championship run.

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This week’s panel features NZ Herald Online Sports Journalist Alex Powell and Gold Sport Rugby Commentator Hamish McKay. On the agenda this weekend:

• New Zealand Rugby suffers a massive loss, despite a record income for 2024
• Go Media Stadium gets the nod over Eden Park
• Are we unlikely to see India and Pakistan play each other in cricket again?

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