Brent Craig

  • Rugby
    UN-AUSTRALIAN ACTIVITIES: A round up of the other Super Rugby matches

    Five rounds in and the New Zealand Conference is developing into a three-way scrap between the Crusaders...

  • Rugby
    UN-AUSTRALIAN ACTIVITIES: A round up of the other Super Rugby matches

    This year the Foreign Exchange has had a bit of a makeover. So here is round one’s instalment with...

  • Rugby
    Highlanders Super Rugby Preview

    The Highlanders were eliminated in the semi finals last year, but can the 2015 champions return to...

  • Rugby
    Crusaders Super Rugby Preview

    Can a new coach, but largely the same players, build on a promising but unsuccessful 2016 to...

  • All Blacks
    France v All Blacks – Match Review

    A jaded-looking All Blacks have held off a brave French XV to secure a 24-19 win in...

  • All Blacks
    Preview – France v All Blacks

    France get a chance to avenge last year’s RWC quarter final humiliation when they host New Zealand...

  • All Blacks
    Preview – Italy v New Zealand

    Just a week ago the All Blacks had never lost to Ireland but don’t expect Italy to...

  • Mitre 10 Cup
    Mitre 10 Cup Championship and Heartland Finals

    MITRE 10 CUP CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL IN DUNEDIN NORTH HARBOUR 17-14 OTAGO North Harbour will return to New Zealand rugby’s top flight courtesy of a last-minute drop goal from 5/8 Bryn Gatland. As in last week’s semi final, Harbour were on the wrong side of almost every match stat but unlike last week...

  • Mitre 10 Cup
    Mitre 10 Cup & Heartland Championship Semi Finals

    MITRE 10 CUP CHAMPIONSHIP – SEMI FINAL 1 IN DUNEDIN OTAGO 27-20 BAY OF PLENTY Otago’s better all-round game and tenacious defence proved too much for Bay of Plenty’s grinding forward play in this absorbing contest. Bay of Plenty scored first through a penalty to 5/8 Dan Hollinshead before Otago lock Tom...

  • Rugby
    Match Preview – Wallabies v All Blacks, Bledisloe 3

    History will be made at Eden Park on Saturday night. Either the All Blacks will acheive their...

  • Mitre 10 Cup
    MITRE 10 CUP: WEEK 8 WRAP

    With just one week remaining in the regular season, Canterbury will be top seed in the Premiership semi finals with Taranaki and two of Counties Manukau, Auckland, Tasman and Waikato rounding out the final four. In the Championship Otago, Wellington and Manawatu have booked their places in the semi finals and will...

  • Mitre 10 Cup
    MITRE 10 CUP: WEEK 6 WRAP

    Canterbury (26 points), Taranaki (25), Counties Manukau (24) and Auckland (22) have jumped clear of Waikato and Tasman (both 18) at the top of the Premiership, albeit the latter two have a game in hand. In the Championship Otago (29) and Wellington (23) are all but assured of semi final berths with...

  • Mitre 10 Cup
    MITRE 10 CUP 2016: WEEK FIVE WRAP

    At the mid-point of the competition Canterbury and Taranaki look certain to make the Premiership semi finals. Any two of Auckland, Waikato, Counties-Manukau and perhaps even Tasman could join them. Hawkes Bay, promoted last year, seem certain to be relegated. Otago are runaway leaders in the Championship with only Southland and Northland...

  • All Blacks
    All Blacks beat dud Boks and win title

    All Blacks 41+ – +Springboks 13 The All Blacks overwhelmed the Springboks in Christchurch with a six-try bonus point victory that secured The Rugby Championship for 2016 with two rounds to spare. First half The All Blacks spent the opening ten minutes in the Springbok half and mounted some promising raids, each...

  • All Blacks
    Preview – All Blacks v Springboks

    Will the Springboks’ famous fighting spirit in adversity be enough to overcome the rampant All Blacks when these most traditional of foes meet again in Christchurch on Saturday evening? The form New Zealand have already retained the Bledisloe Cup 42-8 in Sydney and 29-9 in Wellington; backed this up by dispatching Argentina...

  • Analysis
    Mitre 10 Cup 2016: Week 3 Wrap

    The need for everyone to complete their ten-match regular season in a nine week window means that in each round from here on two teams will have to back up from Wednesday night on Saturday night or Sunday afternoon. Here’s how week three played out. Otago 33-28 Northland A depleted Otago (five...

  • Mitre 10 Cup
    Mitre 10 Cup 2016: Week 1 Wrap

    The Mitre 10 Cup, New Zealand’s domestic rugby showpiece, got under way Thursday night. Here’s what happened. Note: In last week’s preview I stated that there would be two referees; six point tries and two point conversions, penalties and drop goals; and amended Laws 15 and 16. I based that on what...

  • Mitre 10 Cup
    NATIONAL PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2016

    The 41st edition of New Zealand’s domestic rugby showpiece gets under way Thursday night. There’s a new sponsor, some experimental laws, and as always a heap of new faces determined to be the next big thing in New Zealand if not World rugby. Mitre 10 will sponsor both the 14-team professional Mitre...

  • Rugby
    Preview: Lions v Highlanders semi finial

    The Highlanders will have to overcome the effects of altitude and a punishing travel schedule as well...

  • Rugby
    Lions Roar Past Crusaders

    The Lions have swept into the semi finals in style with a six tries to three, 42-25 victory over the Crusaders at Ellis Park overnight and will now host the Highlanders in the semi finals next week. Embed from Getty Images First Half Going into the match one wondered if the Lions...