Nine To Noon Sports correspondent Sam Ackerman
Mar 16, 2026
Sam Ackerman, sports correspondent and analyst on NZ rugby sevens, cricket, motorsport and Paralympics. He recounts the Black Ferns 7s’ comeback and team culture. He breaks down the Black Caps’ T20 woes and middle‑order questions. He highlights White Ferns’ convincing win and rising batters. He also explains F1 battery and aero headaches and New Zealand’s Winter Paralympics results.
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Black Ferns Sevens Domination And Comeback Culture
- The Black Ferns Sevens combine elite skill with relentless resilience to dominate the World Sevens Series.
- In New York they recovered from a 21-5 deficit to win 22-21, showing their culture of clear identity and never giving up.
Black Caps Struggled But Katenay Clark Offers Power Option
- New Zealand's Black Caps underperformed in a T20 against South Africa, lacking the intent they showed at the recent T20 World Cup.
- The top order failed to set the tone and an injury opened a spot for power-hitting newcomer Katenay Clark, who can clear boundaries as a natural T20 opener.
Use Lower Order Depth To Recover From Collapses
- When a batting collapse happens, backline depth can still change the game if lower-order hitters are used appropriately.
- Sam Ackerman noted confidence in selections like Mitch Santner and Jimmy Neesham coming in to rebuild innings.