NZ Rugby World

jim@nzrugbyworld.co.nz WHAT A SHAMBLES. It’s no one’s fault, but Super Rugby is an absolute shambles thanks to covid-19 and bearing the brunt are newbies, Moana Pasifika, who, at the time of writing, have had three games rescheduled. Two were because they were smashed by the virus, the third came after it hit the Hurricanes. Incredibly, Moana, who were on the back foot in their first year, have picked up a win against the Hurricanes, and are far from just making up the numbers in this revamped competition. There is little anyone could have done about this mess given the rules around covid, isolation and return to play, but it is still an unmitigated disaster. Fans have no idea what is going on and because they can’t be at games, are more disconnected than ever…

It has been a sad time for rugby fans as we’ve farewelled two incredible players, Va’aiga Tuigamala and Joeli Vidiri. For those of us lucky enough to have played alongside them, it has been extra hard as we say goodbye. I am very happy I played with Inga more often than I played against him. You would think you had him covered, but all it took was a swing of those hips, that quick step and you’d be left in his wake. I remember playing for Suburbs against Inga’s beloved Ponsonby and being tasked with marking him. It ended with me on my backside, watching him speed away and score – all with that trademark smile. One of the last crusades Inga took on was to do with health. He was passionate…

Julian Savea wants to play second five for the All Blacks. It sounds outrageous - it’s certainly audacious, but Savea is serious. “The midfield is where I want to end up,” he says. “I want to be more of a play maker, in behind the forwards, making the calls. “And the goal is to get back there [the All Blacks]. It’s why I’m trying to play the best rugby I can.” When asked, almost to confirm, that he wants to be the All Blacks second five, Savea says, in his soft but determined voice - “who wouldn’t want to be?”. Sio Julian Savea’s All Blacks stats are pretty straight forward. He played 54 tests, started 51 of them, and all of those were on the left wing. But the key ingredient for any wing is…

THE INCUMBENTS Quinn Tupaea, 22, started five tests at second five, including the loss to France in the final match of the year. He’s not afraid to hit the line and can be a lively runner with good skills, but like the two others used here last year, he’s on the small side. At 97kgs he is the heaviest of the three but about 10kg lighter than Ma’a Nonu was and that size counts in the collisions. Anton Lienert-Brown, 26, had a year blighted by injuries but still managed to start five tests at centre and one at second five. Interestingly the Almanack editors have him there in their team of the year. Like the other two, he needs more size, but he has great skills, is a good defender and has…

New Zealand Rugby has the money. Now it has to ensure it still has friends to play with. While South Africa, New Zealand’s most treasured rival, will remain locked in to Sanzaar until 2025, it continues to make loud noises about joining the Six Nations and unless it finds a way to do both, that would leave the All Blacks staring at a Rugby Championship diet heavy on Wallaby, and probably including Puma with a garnish of Brave Blossoms on the side. It’s a meal unlikely to satisfy fans and one that could compromise the All Blacks not so much financially but leave them underdone from a high-performance standpoint when it comes to northern tours, World Cups and the proposed Nations Cup. Former All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen was adamant the key…

Charmaine Smith had pretty much given up. Sure, she’d kept a few bits of rugby gear in a box, but most of it, she’d given away. A bulging disc in her back that was pressing on her spinal cord had seemingly put an end to a career that had seen her play 27 tests, with Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore commenting on her retirement. “She’s made a huge contribution to the legacy of the Black Ferns and she can be enormously proud of her rugby career,” Moore said in 2020. “Her family has always been Charmaine’s motivation and I’m sure they are all thrilled with all that she has achieved in the black jersey." Except, that wasn’t how it ended. Smith, 31, who was a key part of the Black Ferns 2017 World…