Rugby Fix » Rugby Blog

Hansen Looks to the Future

Guest Author — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:17:34 +0000

Head-Coach Steve Hansen released his first All Blacks squad since assuming the top job this week, and while those selected were said to be part of the first ‘Training Squad’ of the year, there is much this squad says about the mind-set of Hansen and his coaching staff, and their vision for the future.
While there are plenty of recognizable faces in the 35 names read out today the side is very much Hansen’s own, and deviates in many ways from the sides put together by Graham Henry. Although battling Blues’ players Piri Weepu and Ali Williams have retained their…

Why Auckland Rugby has the Blues

Guest Author — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:12:50 +0000

For years there was a saying around the New Zealand rugby community, that ‘when Auckland is strong, the All Blacks are strong’. And it makes sense – the Auckland catchment area is far and away the largest in the country. The population, the talent pool, and the resources at the Auckland Rugby Union’s disposal are almost equal to the rest of the country’s combined, so it seems reasonable to think that a strong Auckland side reflects strength in New Zealand rugby, and conversely a weak Auckland side would signal a lack of depth or talent.

However, times have changed, and …

Dan Carter 2.0

Guest Author — Sat, 05 May 2012 07:21:38 +0000

The recent return of Dan Carter to the Crusaders’ ranks in the last few weeks has provided us with the first insight into what we can expect in the coming seasons from the talismanic fly-half.

Having dominated international rugby for nearly a decade, the All Blacks’ champion number 10 had his World Cup dreams dashed with a devastating groin injury, and is only now returning to full fitness.

But, as inevitably happens with ageing players, and players returning from serious injuries, the Carter we see in the coming years will be a different Carter from the one we’ve seen previously. …

RugbyFix Picks: Super Rugby Round Eleven 2012

Mike — Thu, 03 May 2012 07:43:26 +0000

A couple of local derbies in the Hurricanes v Blues and Brumbies v Waratahs, and a grudge matche between last year’s grand finalists should light up round eleven of the 2012 Super Rugby competition. Even the Hurricanes v Blues, between two of New Zealand’s lowest ranked teams, will have plenty of venom. The Hurricanes, particularly fly half Beauden Barrett, broke Blues hearts when they met earlier in the season (see the video on the Beauden Barrett player profile… article). It was a devastating loss the already precarious Blues never recovered from. Neither team have had great results over the last

Crusaders step up the pace

Guest Author — Thu, 03 May 2012 04:16:05 +0000

After annihilating the Hurricanes in Wellington and grabbing a bonus point win in Sydney against the ‘Tahs last weekend it looks as though Super Rugby’s most successful franchise might be starting to hit top gear again.
It was a hard-fought battle for the Red and Blacks in Australia on the weekend, but one that they never really looked in serious threat of losing. Robbie Fruean played hero and villain for the visitors in the space of five minutes, first missing a tackle to allow the Waratahs to score the first try, then bursting throw the home side’s defence to even…