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Joined February 2024
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Hamish Bidwell has been a journalist for more than 20 years, working in print, radio and television.
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Ruben Love, eh? The stand-in Hurricanes fly-half certainly isn’t the worst. I won’t proclaim him the next great New Zealand No.10, but he has…
I’m pleased for Rob Penney, but I won’t be shocked if he’s not Crusaders head coach next year. Penney took a pizzling in 2024.…
I was a victim of clickbait once again, in recent days. Rieko Ioane had apparently sent the rugby world into ‘shock’. Yes, in a…
The Mark Tele’a case is a curious one. Media reports have surfaced that the off-contract All Blacks wing has agreed a deal to play…
I want to commend the Blues, and Beauden Barrett in particular, on a job well done. It’s not something I’m usually in the habit…
It was only a couple of weeks ago that someone asked me what Israel Folau had done. I don’t know what prompted them to…
Not only do I like Scott Robertson, I also want to like him. As a journalist, I always worked on the principle of disliking…
Years ago now, a coach asked me for a favour. He was a bit miffed at the performances of a couple of players and…
Few things gladden my heart more than watching New Zealand rugby teams lose. That can get a bit niggly at times, especially when the…
I’ll start this week’s column with a quote from New Zealand Rugby’s general manager of professional rugby and performance, Chris Lendrum. “There’s never an…
For a long time, it was hard not to wonder how Richie Mo’unga might go without Beauden Barrett in the same backline. I think…
Scott Robertson and the All Blacks are bigger than New Zealand Rugby (NZR). And yet the national coach copped a public backhander from his…
As I scan the New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific news, it’s hard to escape the succession of injury stories. Tales of woe about player…
For one of the rare occasions in recent times I’m a little disappointed that the All Blacks’ season is over. I’d actually begun to…
“Republicans buy sneakers too.’’ Ideally, that’s all I really want to say about TJ Perenara using the All Blacks haka for political purposes and…
There’s a bit of confected outrage around this All Black defeat to France. I’d been away on holiday and didn’t watch France’s 30-29 win…
I’ve heard and read some absolute cobblers, since the All Blacks’ 23-13 win over Ireland. The result was stunning, apparently, and we witnessed a…
Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. Sure, the All Blacks were a bit lucky to beat England 24-22 at Twickenham. And, no,…
Billy Proctor ought to be New Zealand’s starting centre. I don’t say that lightly. It’s taken me a while to warm to him as…
I actually don’t wish Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii all the best in rugby. Nothing personal, more a contempt for the lazy thinking at Rugby Australia. The…
Well said. I don’t really agree with any of that
Two new teams and a big show of faith to two more - how Super Rugby must kick on from a thrilling start to 2024
Yeah, that Rebels situation is incredibly unfortunate.
I don’t profess to have followed it closely, but I’m assuming it was well forecast and steps could have been taken to ensure we didn’t reach this point?
Two new teams and a big show of faith to two more - how Super Rugby must kick on from a thrilling start to 2024
So we just abandon Samoa, Tonga and Fiji? We let France and Japan and New Zealand and Australia help themselves to their players and allow them to slowly die?
We don’t allow Moana Pasifika and the Drua to host games and truly compete with the other franchises?
Were you around for the 1991 Rugby World Cup? Did you see that Samoa team in action? Did you, naively as it’s turned out, imagine they were an emerging superpower?
The best thing I’ve seen in sport in the last decade is the emergence of the Tonga rugby league team and the players that left tier 1 nations and the groundswell of support that team generated.
I’m not sure why we’re not desperate to mobilise the same fanbase in rugby and build genuine rivalries with our Pacific neighbours.
We can’t preach to the same choir forever. That audience is turning off
Two new teams and a big show of faith to two more - how Super Rugby must kick on from a thrilling start to 2024
Only if you’ve written the headline. I’m only responsible for the waffle underneath my name
Poaching NZ coaches won't solve the Wallabies' woes - the real solution is a lot less sexy
Forgive me if I’m wrong, but pretty sure the word “poaching” doesn’t appear in the article. Happy to be told otherwise
Poaching NZ coaches won't solve the Wallabies' woes - the real solution is a lot less sexy
Don’t get me started on governing bodies that won’t take a decent look in the mirror. I’ve lived in Hurricanes country most of my life and I don’t think they’ve ever had a decent tight five. Good loosies, sure, often world class backs, but never a scrum or lineout that could be relied upon when it counted. It’s why, in Steve Hansen’s day, he never entered into the Barrett v Mo’unga debate. His answer was always that if you put Beauden behind the Crusaders’ pack would we even be having the discussion?
Poaching NZ coaches won't solve the Wallabies' woes - the real solution is a lot less sexy
Far from a know-all. I just miss the Bledisloe Cup rugby of, say 98-03, when Australia was often in the ascendant. Foregone conclusions are a snore and until RA spends money on things that win games, the All Blacks are likely to keep retaining the Bledisloe unfortunately. That’s no good for our rugby either
Poaching NZ coaches won't solve the Wallabies' woes - the real solution is a lot less sexy
I wouldn’t go as far as saying converts don’t work, it’s more about the influence an outside back can actually have. I’m not quite sure why Vunivalu hasn’t prospered in rugby, but Koroibete is one of the better Wallabies most weeks and it has minimal effect on the outcome. I’ve no doubt Sua’ali’i has ability, but how many trophies can he win you from the wing? I’d be trying to develop tight forwards if I held the purse strings
Poaching NZ coaches won't solve the Wallabies' woes - the real solution is a lot less sexy
You’ll have to show me how to use AI some time
Two new teams and a big show of faith to two more - how Super Rugby must kick on from a thrilling start to 2024