NZ Rugby World No 182 Oct-Nov 2016

RIVALRIES ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF ANY SPORT. They are, in essence, why sport of any nature works. One group or person becomes determined to beat another group or person and in the course of time, stories, feelings, legends and all sorts develop. There are few rivalries as deep and as enduring as that between the All Blacks and Wallabies. But at the moment, that rivalry is under threat. It’s not in a good place. Not in a healthy state. That’s not because of the simmering tension and edginess that has developed since Michael Cheika took over as Wallabies coach in November 2014. That’s actually been good for the business of selling the Bledisloe as genuine sporting theatre. The rivalry is not in good shape because it doesn’t actually feel like much of a…

FOR MONTHS, BEAUDEN BARRETT was being asked about his longer term future. He was off contract at the end of the year and the New Zealand Rugby Union wanted him to commit through to the 2019 World Cup. They knew that there were offshore vultures circling. They wanted Barrett locked in sooner rather than later so from February this year, they were chipping away trying to get a deal done. Barrett knew he was going to take that deal: that he was going to stay with the Hurricanes and set his sights on being with the All Blacks trying to make it three-in-a-row in Japan. But he held off signing. And what a smart play that was. Between May and August, he went from being a great bench option for the All Blacks…

Dan Carter is reportedly the best paid in the world at the moment – earning $2.5m a season. THERE WAS MA’A NONU minding his own business in the South of France when some random billionaire starts talking about building a super club in Bristol and making the former All Blacks midfielder the highest paid player in the world. Nice. Nonu might have wondered whether it was a joke, but apparently not. Steve Lansdown is one of England’s richest men with an estimated fortune of $3bn. He’s the cash behind the rejuvenated Bristol club who have returned to the English Premiership after a decade of struggling in the lower reaches. Lansdown, who also owns Bristol City Football Club – itself a former iconic team – wants to make a rugby team that can win…

Here’s our undiluted opinion on all the action from the last eight weeks. Australia transformed from being the number two side in the world to a couple of nice warm-up tests for the All Blacks ahead of the real action in the Rugby Championship. Technically the Wallabies didn’t lose their number two ranking. Most Kiwis would certainly associate them with a number two. What this dramatic fall from grace has also done is bring into focus the decision to make Michael Cheika world coach of the year in 2015. Look, we like the guy, think he’s good for the world game and for making life interesting. But you have to ask...the Wallabies had four weeks to prepare for their opening test in Sydney and hey diddly-dee, they offered hey diddly-squat. Zip. Nothing. Nada. So what do they do…

The cruel among us might say they are a perfect fit – a fading force joining a fading force. Perhaps they will pull each other under quicker than anyone expected. Or, the alternative view is that they could be the spark each needs. Cooper hasn’t been much of a player since 2011. That was the year he had it all. He could do just about anything then and he was a genuine joy to watch. He steered the Reds to the Super Rugby title and played with no inhibition and no restrictions. He was wonderful. But then he started duelling with Richie McCaw and the All Blacks closed ranks and dealt to him. They destroyed him mentally on a few occasions and he’s never been the same since. Can he again be the player…

IT WAS WITH a surprise factor of zero that the British Lions announced the retention of Warren Gatland as the coach for next year’s 10-match tour to New Zealand. The national coach of Wales was installed as favourite for the job almost the day after he successfully led the Lions to a 2-1 series victory in 2013. And so it proved, after reviewing all the test action in June, the Lions committee felt that former All Black Gatland was the right man for the job again. His knowledge of New Zealand and experience with bringing Wales here in June were deemed crucial as the toughness of the tour is considered off the scale. The Lions will play mainly Super Rugby sides before the three tests and it has been confirmed that in the…