Special Interest

That game was more like it for New Zealand rugby fans. Over the weekend in Wellington, we saw the All Blacks dismantle France 43–17 in the second game of the series. It was a performance that felt inevitable based on game one, as in Dunedin it was only one or two referee calls away from being broken open. On Saturday, New Zealand made a statement by claiming the series and doing so in dominant fashion. So, just like last week, it’s time to dive into the player ratings for this game. Ethan de Groot This was one of the most…

After rewatching the game, I feel as though the score line of the first game in Dunedin was rather flattering for the touring French side. There were many uncharacteristic mistakes from New Zealand, which led to some unorthodox opportunities and points for France that kept them within reach. Plus, don’t get me started on the officiating; honestly, the less said, the better.Now, looking to this week, I don’t expect loads of rotation, but there will be some forced changes due to the injuries to Scott Barrett and Sevu Reece, which will cause some movement in the squad. So, just like…

New Zealand narrowly got over the line in Dunedin with a 31-27 win over France. The game was a high-scoring affair that still left plenty of questions around certain positions and player selections heading into the rest of the season.Here, we’re launching our own player rating articles for each game of the test season. To add a twist, we’ll be naming the best performer as the betcha’s Best, hoping to help with a end of season awards article.One quick note on how we grade the bench: a 6/10 for someone who played 20 minutes isn’t the same as a 6/10…

With the international rugby landscape heating up, France are touring New Zealand, South Africa are playing the Barbarians, and the British and Irish Lions are preparing for their next big series as they head to Australia for their traditional four-year tour of either South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand. To celebrate that tour, I wanted to explore what a “Southern Lions” squad could look like if New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia combined forces to tour Europe. Loose Head: Ox Nché To start off the squad, we have the most dominant prop in world rugby. Ox Nché has become a…

Game one of Razor’s second campaign as the All Blacks head coach is coming up this weekend in Dunedin, as they begin a three-match test series against a France B-team. Even though the French have left some of their big names at home, I’m personally very excited for this series because it will give us a blueprint of what to expect in the Rugby Championship this season. With that in mind, I want to take a look at the team I think the coaching staff will select for a game that is shaping up to be a statement match for…

For the first time as New Zealand Rugby Chairman, David Kirk has named the 33-man All Blacks squad that will take on France during their tour of New Zealand in less than two weeks’ time. After months of speculation, the New Zealand public finally gets its first look at the names the All Blacks’ brain trust will be relying on heading into this international season. In light of this, I wanted to provide a bit of analysis and, like most of us couch selectors, offer my two cents on how Razor has gone this time around. Your All Blacks selected…