Search results

This is the AB team for the England test apparently. All Blacks: Damian McKenzie, Ben Smith, Jack Goodhue, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (capt), Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Karl Tu'inukuafe...

Eden Park isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Firstly, NZ Cricket will still want to use Eden Park for high capacity games (e.g. certain T20s and certain ODIs) where the crowds will be much bigger than Western Springs can hold. Secondly - where is the new stadium going to be built? Who is going...

Karl T would have already been in the 23 already - he will go from bench to starting loosehead with Ofa T probably coming into the 23 on the bench.

This weekend's Maori All Blacks v Brazil game is going to be streamed live and free on Brazil Rugby's Twitter account. Kickoff is 8am Sunday Syd/Melb time. https://www.world.rugby/news/375659

I reckon Laumape's main work on is his defence. His defence has been exposed this year at times and was even the case against Japan on the weekend. He got bumped off for one Japanese try and then in another he got overpowered for a try. Meanwhile SBW i'm not convinced meshes with Beauden at...

Well one of the articles that proposed Hunt at 7 over Papali'i was by Hamish Bidwell - who would arguably be the worst rugby journo in NZ - so it's not all that surprising - but still worth calling out.

Why would you start Hunt over Papali'i when Papali'i is in the main 32 man squad and completely dominated Hunt in the Battle of the Bridge - the last game either of them played.

Props look good. tick. Hookers look shithouse. Apisai was abysmal but the muppets signed him to a 2 year deal last year so they are stuck with him. Locks look decent but depth a worry Loosies look fine. Tupou is an awful re-signing. Should be Olmstead Halfbacks shouldn't have Pulu...

Anything with Collins not in the 23 has my vote. Dreams are free I suppose.

Yes I can confirm Plummer is already signed by the Blues. Blues continue to make a lot of average signings but his signing is a very good one. It's worth noting in the last 3 weeks he's outplayed Gatland, Garden-Bachop and Cameron. So yes I am ecstatic about how Plummer has gone in this year's...

I think what Akira showed is the ability to really deliver in a final when the chips were down (after dominating in a semi final the week prior). He smartly quick tapped and scored when Auckland were down 20-7 and were pounding the Canterbury line. Then down 26-19 he executed at the back of...

Yes - celebrations all around! Gee the North Island did well on the finals - of the 3 North-South finals the North won all 3. On another note - some very interesting comments from AB selector Grant Fox about Akira...

Cheers! What an amazing game! Absolutely stoked with that. One of the best wins for Auckland rugby in a long time. Luke Whitelock had the better of the first half but Akira had the better of the rest of the game. Akira's ball running ability was a huge factor in Auckland's win. Auckland's...

Canterbury: George Bridge, Josh McKay, Braydon Ennor, Phil Burleigh, Caleb Makene, Brett Cameron, Mitchell Drummond (captain), Luke Whitelock, Billy Harmon, Reed Prinsep, Mitchell Dunshea, Luke Romano, Sef Fa'agase, Nathan Vella, Alex Hodgman Reserves: Brodie McAlister, Harry Allan, Chris...

With Goodhue out ill at the moment the ABs have been saved from making some tough calls in the midfield. They really rate ALB's ability to come off the bench. SBW needs time on the field - he's hardly played the whole calendar year.

Except for Harris that bench looks good. I don't rate that 10-12-13 combo.

Graham Henry on Sumo Stevenson's podcast this week. He has a dig at the All Blacks for not picking Akira. Sumo himself then also gets stuck into the ABs for not picking Akira. Excellent stuff. https://www.rugbypass.com/news/watch-the-short-ball-s03e40-sir-graham-henry-pops-in-for-a-chat

The issue is there are a heap of loose forwards currently in the ABs that have just as much to work on in their games as Akira does.

It's amazing what happens when he gets some decent coaching (same goes for a lot of the Auckland boys). Thankfully with Coventry on board at the Blues next year (and MacDonald with the backs) the Blues players might actually have half a chance. Overall - absolutely stoked to get a home final...