Tag: All Blacks
Rugby: Predictable shots fired ahead of Twickenham clash
Opinion
As they prepare to play the All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday (Sunday morning NZ time) will barbs in the media this week from...
The time is now for Scott Robertson
By Henry Lee, AUT Journalism Student
Life as the All Blacks' coach isn’t always smooth sailing.
Scott “Razor” Robertson will seek improvements in key areas...
Burning All Blacks questions for rumble in the jungle
By Henry Lee, AUT Journalism Student
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and his staff know their charges will have to be at their...
Rugby: Razor says Cane is able
All Black coach Scott Robertson has made four changes to the starting XV for this week's shot at redemption against Argentina at fortress Eden...
All Blacks player ratings v Argentina
Opinion
The much-vaunted tenure of new All Black coach Scott Robertson hit its first major stumbling block after his side crashed to a 38-30 defeat...
Saint praise – St Kents’ All Black, starting role
A former Saint Kentigern College star will be looking to stake his claim for regular All Black selection. With seven All Black caps already...
All Blacks v England : NZ Player ratings
By Henry Lee, AUT Journalism student
OPINION
In a positive start to Scott Robertson's tenure, The All Blacks claimed a shaky but gritty 16-15 win over...
Dalton Papalii – loose talk with true Blues All Black
Chilly conditions at the ‘Edinburgh of the south’ could well put a fire in the bellies of an English rugby contingent. However, across the...
Local boys amongst All Blacks named for first Test
New coach Scott Robertson has named a starting side containing a couple of talking points but bereft of debutants for the All Blacks' first...
Hoskins Sotutu – forgotten silver good as gold
A dozen 'mince pies' for the season may not have been enough to earn Razor's favour, but Hoskins Sotutu's 2024 statistics have been recognised...
Razor’s chance to prove he’s a cut above
OPINION
Scott Robertson will finally get a chance to test his mettle on the international stage when his men in black meet an England side...
All Blacks, some ‘blues’
The names have been noted, the roll of honour called as Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson has now named his first squad as All Black coach.
“As...
OPINION: All Blacks resurrection after quarterfinal thriller
OPINION
Sam Whitelock!
The name that rung through thousands of televisions and households across New Zealand just before the final whistle was blown in the All...
Four Saint Kentigern old boys selected for All Blacks
Four Saint Kentigern College old boys have been selected in the first All Blacks squad of 2023 to compete in the Rugby Championship.
Finlay Christie...
ABs prep to tackle northeners
By Ivan Agnew, award-winning sports writer
Nine wins in 10 tests this year is an All Blacks record not to be sneezed at in...
Family pays tribute to All Blacks great
Waka Nathan’s daughters Alana, Claudine and Janine have paid tribute to their father who died last week.
“We adored Dad and the tributes flowing in from...
Farewell Black Panther
By award-winning sports writer Ivan Agnew
Black Panther Waka Nathan ended a long battle with dementia, dying peacefully before his family at Dannemora's Bruce...
Tough but no flair
By award-winning sports writer Ivan Agnew
The Springboks remain as tough as teak in the rugby world but their lack of imagination and flair...
Young guns fire rockets
The huge gains made by relative new caps has been the most pleasing feature of the All Blacks’ progress this year as they head...
All Blacks roast Pumas
By award-winning sports writer Ivan Agnew
Having roasted Puma 39-0 on the Gold Coast rugby barbeque on Sunday night, the All Blacks selectors still...
All Blacks’ defence shines
By award-winning sports writer Ivan Agnew
Losing three of their best to pending fatherhood failed to stop the All Blacks' dominance over Australia in...
COMMENT: Gold beyond medals
Initially renowned for the laughter they created, The Adams Family have long since gone from comedians to the power of their athleticism.
Take former Half...
All Blacks’ redemption
Total redemption best describes the All Blacks' record 57-22 rugby triumph against a gutsy Australian team shocked by their power and cohesion.
Wallabies head coach...
Backs thrill against Fiji
A backline master class with slick passing to dynamic wings Sevu Reece, Will Jordan and replacement Rieko Ioane highlighted a resounding 60-13 All Blacks...
Coles flatters All Blacks
With the All Blacks flattered by their 57-23 rugby test win against gallant Fiji in Dunedin on Saturday night, the selectors still don't know...
Norrie’s moment of glory
Cameron Norrie would not have fancied his chances of advancing beyond the third round at Wimbledon against Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer but was...
Smith stings like a bee
New Zealand has produced many outstanding halfbacks but none with the electrifying energy, slick pass or vision of Highlanders and All Blacks star Aaron...
Sad fate for Humpty Dumpty challenger
I couldn't stop hearing the Beatles' Yellow Submarine song ringing in my head when American Magic's Patriot capsized on the Waitemata Habour waters during...
COMMENT: All Blacks’ sweet redemption
Happy as I was to see the All Blacks avenge their rugby test loss with a reassuring 38-0 victory at Newcastle, I was confounded...
COMMENT: All Blacks need to play smart
The All Blacks need both brains and brawn if they are to avenge their 15-25 historic first rugby test loss to Argentina in Australia.
Brains...
Cake Kitchen scores big
A nationwide campaign called Borrow the All Blacks where 100 small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) for whom video and advertising packages were created has...
COMMENT: Mo’unga and Barrett are both champions
It's time to stop the debate as to whether Richie Mo'unga or Beauden Barrett is the All Blacks best first-five and acknowledge we are...
COMMENT: Eroni’s divine inspiration
It was divine inspiration that settled Eroni Clarke's nerves in the changing room before his first All Blacks test against a World XV in...
COMMENT: Marvellous Clarke destroys Aussie Matilda’s waltz
If Clarke Kent can transform into Superman, Caleb Clarke must be Captain America after his magnificent performance in the All Blacks 27-7 second Bledisloe...
COMMENT: Two hands better than one
It's a shame Rieko Ioane was too young to receive a lesson from Kiwis rugby league coach Graham Lowe on the safest way to...
OPINION: Rennie is Wallabies’ dangerman
Coach Dave Rennie is Australia's dangerman going into the first Bledisloe Cup test against Ian Foster's All Blacks in Wellington on Sunday.
For both it...
Rugby Championship: Govt open to hosting in NZ
Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson says the Government is keen to work with New Zealand Rugby and SANZAAR to see if The Rugby...
Grassroots sport: Is club rugby on the rocks?
By Nathan Limm
Former All Blacks player Pita Alatini spoke with second-year AUT journalism student Nathan Limm on the future of New Zealand Rugby Clubs...
Opinion: The marketing of the NRL – simply the best
The NRL has launched its new season with a new video which features a spectacular re-working of the Tina Turner classic Simply the best....
Hopping mad: Special players are special cases
OPINION
In the media this week was the report rugby league star Kayln Ponga is looking to be the next top athlete to make the...
Rugby: Beauden’s absence a farce
Watching the seemingly hapless Blues get swept aside by the Crusaders at Eden Park on Friday and witnessing the continued struggles of the Jonathan...
Springboks kings of world rugby jungle
With Siya Kolisi proudly holding aloft the Webb Ellis Cup, it was the Springboks who bellowed their victorious king of the rugby jungle roar...
Reaction: English thorns mortally wound All Blacks
By Ivan Agnew
Having predicted in last week’s column that the English rose’s thorns could wound New Zealand in their Rugby World Cup Yokohama semi-final,...
Thorny English rose aims to prick All Blacks pride
Rarely has a Rugby World Cup match promised such excitement as Saturday’s eagerly anticipated semi-final in which the English rose will seek to wound...
Classy backs give All Blacks winning edge
Despite losing two of their last three games against Ireland, the brilliant All Black backs should pave the way to a Rugby World Cup...
COMMENT: Lienert-Brown deserves All Blacks starting berth
Probably ranked fourth in the midfield pecking order before injuries to Sonny Bill Williams and Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown deserves a starting berth when...
Japan puts the cat amongst the pigeons
Much as we admired Japan’s magnificent 19-12 Rugby World Cup win against Ireland on Sunday, it has put the cat among the pigeons with...
Daring All Blacks dazzle
It was a classic case of “he who dares wins” when the All Blacks overcame first quarter jitters to open their Rugby World Cup...
Springboks instil fear
Old time apprehension New Zealanders held before All Blacks versus Springboks contests returns when the two clash in Japan on Saturday night to kick...
All Blacks are near perfect
The All Blacks were near perfection in their 92-7 thrashing of under-strength Tonga at Hamilton last Saturday - but South Africa will pose a...
Franks puts team first
It was sad to see 108-test stalwart Owen Franks fail to make the All Blacks 2019 Rugby World Cup squad but selectors Steve Hansen,...
COMMENT: England flex muscles as World Cup looms
It’s a funny old world when Six Nations champions Wales have broken New Zealand’s 509-week status as the world’s top rugby nation and England,...
COMMENT: Changes worked wonders with All Blacks
Five player changes and a much better attitude reaped its reward when the All Blacks avenged their 47-26 Perth rugby defeat with a 36-0...
AGNEW’S ANGLE: Awful Aussies now awsome
No excuses. The one-time awful Aussies were awesome in inflicting upon the All Blacks a 47-26 rugby thrashing in Perth last Saturday.
The sending off...
Ivan’s Angle: The Gentleman All Black
To those who knew him, Wairarapa farmer Sir Brian Lochore will always be known as The Gentleman All Black Captain.
For the many thousands his...
OPINION: All Blacks are creaking
Two games don't make an international rugby winter, but after a 20-16 win against Argentina and a 16-all draw with South Africa, a rusty...
OPINION: Sonny Bill on thin ice
Having suffered hamstring problems soon after making the All Blacks' 39-man squad, Sonny Bill Williams is skating on thin ice.
Injuries have plagued the 33-year-old...
Two named in All Blacks
The just-named All Blacks squad includes two former Pakuranga United Rugby Club players.
They have been named in the 39-strong squad for the first two...
OPINION: Combine the top playmakers
Call me crazy but I would like to see the All Blacks combine Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett in the five-eighths before the World...
OPINION: Chiefs scrape in
Having scraped into the Super Rugby last eight playoffs in seventh spot, the Chiefs once again showed the courage that has characterised their game.
Written...
OPINION: Magnificent Mo’unga
In setting up five of the Crusaders' 10 tries in their 66-0 thrashing of the Rebels, Richie Mo'unga again demonstrated he's one of the...
Swan turns ugly duckling
As rush defences continue to strangle what was once enterprising back play, rugby’s beautiful swan is turning into an ugly duckling.
That, and the horrendous...
OPINION: Crusaders hone champions
No Super Rugby team can match the Crusaders for identifying player talent and honing it to All Black status.
That’s why they’ve got about a...
OPINION: Has Nonu stepped into World Cup contention?
If there were any doubts soon to be 37-year-old Ma’a Nonu was too old to play in this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan,...
Dalton signs until 2022
Blomfield (Darren Blomfield) latest cartoon following news the Blues and New Zealand Rugby have landed two key player signatures with All Blacks Dalton Papalii...
Papalii extends stay with Blues
The Blues and New Zealand Rugby have landed two key player signatures with All Blacks Dalton Papalii and Patrick Tuipulotu committing their immediate futures...
McKenzie and Ioane are superstars
Damian McKenzie and Rieko Ioane emerged as the superstars in a topsy-turvy latest round of Super Rugby which saw the Chiefs register their first...
Gatland stars blast Irish
In completing a record third Six Nations Grand Slam as Wales rugby coach with an overwhelming 25-7 victory against defending champions Ireland in Cardiff...
Blues have genuine talent
Don’t blame young Harry Plummer for missing a conversion and a penalty which would have saved the Blues from their 24-22 Super Rugby loss...
Black Ferns invincible
Despite crippling injuries that have sidelined stars Portia Woodman and Kelly Brazier, the Black Ferns Sevens continue their invincible march on the world stage...
Irish expose All Blacks’ weaknesses
Ireland have done the All Blacks a favour in inflicting upon them their second defeat in their last three clashes under the expert guidance...
Papalii makes All Black squad
Pakuranga United Rugby Club’s Dalton Papalii, 21, has today been named in the All Blacks.
Papalii, who also starred in the Saint Kentigern College 1st...
No World Cup certainty
Two Great Escapes by the All Blacks and Australia over the weekend showed how foolhardy it is to nominate any one team hot favourite...
Auks offer Blues some hope
With six Mitre Cup rugby wins to date, unbeaten Auckland are playing a superior pass and catch game than the Blues have managed for...
Springboks still pack a wallop
With the Springboks showing their old steely resolve to prick the All Blacks' winning bubble 36-34 in Wellington on Saturday night, world rugby was...
All Blacks have Midas Touch
That the All Blacks could beat Argentina 46-24 in the Nelson rugby test despite losing second half possession and territory by a huge margin...
These Wallabies are no bunnies
The overwhelming Super Rugby success of New Zealand teams against Australian franchises won’t necessarily translate to an All Blacks Bledisloe Cup whitewash of the...
Character Crusaders strength
It took character and a magnificent defence for the Crusaders to deny the frustrated Lions in Saturday's Super Rugby final at Christchurch's tattered AMI...
All Blacks sting France
Just 617 caps among the 23 players compared to 1339 from the team that won the 2015 World Cup and last Saturday night’s All...
Laumape before Sonny Bill
I find it incredulous that some rugby scribes believed Sonny Bill Williams would be the answer to the All Blacks backline woes for Saturday’s...
Blues bolstered with All Blacks back in return clash against the...
The Blues welcome back All Blacks Ofa Tuungafasi and Matt Duffie into their side to take on Super Rugby neighbours The Chiefs in Hamilton...
Debut shot for Papalii as Blues choose mix of proven and...
The Blues have secured some exciting new additions to boost a settled core of proven performers for their 2018 Investec Super Rugby Championship campaign.
Ten...
Proud Boks pack big punch
True rugby fans would have thrilled to the drama of Sunday’s tough Cape Town test won 25-24 by the All Blacks against a pugnacious...
Kaino faces tough challenge
Liam Squire and Vaea Fifita are posing hard man Jerome Kaino the toughest challenge of an illustrious All Blacks career dating back to his...
Public invited to honour Dave Gallaher at Eden Park
Members of the public are invited to visit Eden Park for a unique commemoration next month, to mark 100 years since the first All...
Sopoaga deserves start
Against a fast moving, in-your-face defence, I believe Lima Sopoaga and Ryan Crotty would form a better All Blacks combination than Beauden Barrett and...
Lions provided true test
Unlike droll All Blacks coach Steve Hansen I can think of far worse fates than kissing my sister, which was his reaction to the...
