Tag Archives: Owen Franks

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has named his 31-man squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Hansen has left out some big names including 108-Test veteran Owen Franks while Ngani Laumape and Liam Squire were other high-profile players not to make the cut. Laumape’s exclusion has paved the way for Ryan Crotty’s inclusion. All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen …

Among his effusive praise for the All Blacks, Springbok coach Allister Coetzee noted that the world champions are, at present, ‘vulnerable’ despite winning their first three Rugby Championship matches. So, where are the All Black weaknesses the Springboks will seek to exploit this Saturday? 1. A weakened front row After a seemingly endless sequence of Tests with Joe Moody and …

The All Blacks have suffered a blow to their original starting lineup, which was named to take on the Wallabies on Saturday.  Owen Franks has been ruled out due to the ongoing Achilles issues that he’s been suffering from all season. The 29-year-old was set to start when the squad was named on Thursday morning (NZ time). A midday announcement, …

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has named his starting XV for Saturday’s Super Rugby final against the Lions in Johannesburg. Robertson has named an unchanged starting fifteen and bench, meaning the seven-time champions go into their twelfth Super Rugby final with an unchanged match-day 23 for the third game in a row. Here is our team for the @SuperRugbyNZ Final against …

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 …

The Lions gave a lot of razzle dazzle but couldn’t stop the All Black wave of physical domination to maintain their imposing winning streak at Eden Park. So which players stood out above the rest? 15 Liam Williams 8 Fairly quiet until scintillating 50 metres break out launched classic Lions counter-attacking try. Fizzing after that and looked a threat every …

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 …

Aled Price takes a look at the All Blacks’ pack options and deciphers exactly which combination could pose the most problems for the Lions. ________ 1. Joe Moody The most understated and least appreciated member of this All Black pack, Moody quietly goes about his business with precision and aplomb. The Crusaders man is challenged for the number 1 jersey …

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 …

All Blacks tighthead Owen Franks has signed a new contract with the NZRU that will see him stay in contention for the famous black jersey and with Super Rugby side Crusaders until the end of the next Rugby World Cup in 2019. As it is often said tightheads are worth their weight in gold, the NZRU will be particularly contented …

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? – …

Ben Smith is one of New Zealand’s most prized assets. Although the All Blacks maybe dominating the rugby world right now, New Zealand rugby fans live in anxious times. At present, the NZRU’s campaign to introduce global calendar looks to have faltered, while the RFU have dismissed their demand for a cut of the revenue generated in the northern hemisphere …

Argentina matched and even bettered the All Blacks for about half of their Rugby Championship fixture in Hamilton. Unfortunately, in the last 30 minutes, the Pumas were swamped by an All Black tidal wave and finished thirty five points behind by the full-time whistle, 57 – 22. The match was also notable for the sight of Julian ‘The Bus’ Savea going …

Agustin Pichot didn’t hold back in his criticism of SANZAAR. Last weekend rugby fans were left aghast when Owen Franks avoided any form of sanction for allegedly eye gouging Kane Douglas during the All Blacks win over Australia in the Rugby Championship. The incident drew reaction and comment from around the world, with many fans even accusing match officials of consistently showing …

Referees were once again accused of favouring the New Zealand this week. Owen Franks and the All Blacks drew ire from rugby fans across the globe this week, after the All Black prop allegedly gouged one of Kane Douglas’ eyes. Although the incident was picked up by the cameras and caused outrage among fans and ex players like Brian O’Driscoll, it looks …

In the wake of New Zealand’s Bledisloe Cup capturing 29-9 victory over Australia, much of the post match attention was focused on an incident which occurred in the first ten minutes of the encounter. In a maul on the Wallaby ten metre line, All Blacks prop Owen Franks made a clear and blatant attempt for the face of lock Kane Douglas. …