Tag Archives: Brodie Rettalick

The Rugby Championship has passed the midway point and results have generally gone par for the course with the All Blacks far out in front, Australia and South Africa evenly matched and the Pumas petering out after a bright start.  So, who makes our Rugby Championship combined team so far? ________ 15. Israel Folau Folau might be causing controversy on …

An eight-try All Black masterclass smashed records against South Africa and virtually secured the Rugby Championship for 2017. So who glittered brightest among the stars in the 57-0 thrashing on the North Shore? All Blacks 15 Damian McKenzie 7 A nervy beginning under the high ball but gradually grew into the game. Superb touch-finder in the second half and lots of …

As the dust settles after a titanic battle at Eden Park, leaving the series locked in a stalemate, we ask: which Lions and All Black players enhanced their reputations during the tough New Zealand tour? We take a look at the performances of the Test players on each side in the drawn series. ______ Lions Stock Rising: Jonathan Davies Deservedly …

After the Lions gave up a late 14-point lead to draw 31-31 with the Hurricanes, there are a number of questions surrounding Warren Gatand’s side. From key men not playing well to other talented players seemingly unfancied by the selectors, there are issues that have to be resolved. And with the second Test fast approaching, the Lions don’t have a …

The All Blacks’ first game of the season is traditionally one when the players shake off the rust and is usually characterised by unforced errors and misfiring combinations. Not at Eden Park. Not in 2017. So which players booked their places for the first test against the Lions in the 78-0 thrashing of Samoa? 15 Ben Smith 8.5 It gets …

After the Crusaders got suffocated by the Lions whose strategic play was a mix of roar and snore, could the same thing happen to the All Blacks? We select a test side of 23 players who will be tasked with cracking the Lions defensive code in the Tes series. Here is our All Blacks Test squad – and the threat …

With just 38 days until the Lions tour kicks off in New Zealand, the All Blacks should be nearing their peak in form and fitness. But, are they all fit? In this article, we take a look at the players from last year’s squad who could pull on a black jersey tomorrow and those who may be wrinkling the forehead …

Ex-Lion turned pundit Jeremy Guscott recently claimed that the Lions will hold a man-for-man advantage over the All Blacks in their forward pack. Is he right? In this article, we size up the selection possibilities in both sides and tackle his bold claim. As Guscott has not put forward his final Lions XV, we decided to use his ex-teammate Will …

Who’s the strongest of them all? Having assembled a Speed XV and a Flair XV, we wonder if a Power XV would trample over both these teams. In a world of blockbusting, gym-honed gladiators, who would make the most physically powerful XV in their respective positions? And which XV out of the three sides would come out on top overall? …

Following on from the ‘Fast XV’ world’s fastest rugby team article, we now turn on the razzle dazzle and select the 15 most skilful, leap-off-the-sofa brilliant players in their positions in World rugby. Who are the players who can do it all? 15 Ben Smith (All Blacks) Ben Smith in a flair XV? Sure, he isn’t the flashiest player in …

The main difference between England and Scotland in this year’s Six Nations was not power but speed. Jonathan Joseph’s impeccable timing and blazing pace saw him blast through the Scottish backline seemingly at will. But would the Bath flier make a World Fastest XV? 15  Israel Dagg  (New Zealand) A very tough one to pick but the way Israel Dagg …

The All Blacks looked mentally and physically exhausted in Paris but still managed to turn on the brilliance when it mattered to win the final match of their international season. So, what have we learned about the All Blacks in 2016? ______ 5. The House Of Barrett Is The Future Beauden Barrett had another spellbinding game in Paris, where he …

A weary All Blacks side did just enough to repel an inspired but error prone French side in Paris to finish their international season with an impressive 13 wins out of 14. So, how did the players rate out of ten in the Stade de France? _______ New Zealand Israel Dagg (15)   Sped away for a typically opportunistic All …

The All Blacks have been battered and almost bettered on the rugby pitch by Ireland while their squad’s been depleted by injuries and potential suspensions. The All Blacks backline being without their rock of consistency, Ben Smith, means there is a strong case for moving World Player of the Year Beauden Barrett to fullback. Will Steve Hansen roll the dice? If …

The All Blacks’ heavy artillery will return next weekend in Dublin and aim for the sweet taste of revenge against a buoyant Irish side. So who is likely to run out in black against the greens on Saturday? The All Black backline will be decidedly different from that which faced the Irish in Chicago. The All Blacks lost their continuity …

All Blacks boss Steve Hansen has made twelve changes to the team that was overwhelmed by Ireland in Chicago. Will an injection of young talent and energy be enough to overcome the Italians in Rome? With an average age of 25, and average of number of caps at 22, Steve Hansen has backed his up-and-coming stars to get the All …

The 57-15 record thrashing of South Africa was a sizeable cherry on the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship winning cake. The 2016 team has destroyed all before it and led to commentators like former captain Sean Fitzpatrick to label it as the best ever. So which players finished top of the class and who falls into the ‘needs improvement’ category? – …

There is a belief in some circles that FIBA’s decision in 1989 to allow professional basketball players to compete in the summer Olympics ruined the game of international basketball. Between 1972 and 1988 the United States men’s basketball team had won just two Gold medals from four possible tournaments. The US had famously boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow due to the Soviet Union’s decision to …