The All Black: A Novel by Nicholas Sheppard

Hi guys,
wanted to tell you I’ve just finished reading a wonderful novel by Nicholas Sheppard, on Amazon, called The All Black, which really gets into the psyche of All Black rugby, and the aura of playing for the black jersey, across several generations. I thought since the All Blacks are riding so high right now, in the wake of the epic cup victory, some of you guys, or people checking out your sight might be keen to get into it and enjoy it as much as

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The New Zealand All Blacks have won the 2011 Rugby World Cup, triumphing in a gripping but low scoring final against France 8 to 7. The match up mirrored the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup final, also played at Auckland’s Eden Park. Interestingly, the bronze final match up was the same as the 1987 version, but this time Australia emerged victorious. Apart from the rematch, the 2011 final will be remembered as being far different to the 1987 final which New Zealand ran away with 29 to 9. We will never know what might…

The 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand has provided a much needed reset switch for how the Rugby World Cup should be treated, after perhaps losing its way in 2007. One thing is certain, only World Cups hosted by a single country can hope to have the heart that rugby fans want to see in their tournaments. The grass roots, down to earth, encompassing nature of rugby is what still separates it from other leading world sports. This seems to get lost in tournaments that are split amongst host countries.

What has been striking about the…

A Tale of Four Fly Halves…

Stephen Donald has easily been the most derided All Black over the last two seasons. Good players being stuck behind once-in-a-lifetime All Blacks is nothing new. Players like Frano Botica, Norm Hewitt, Marty Holah and Nick Evans may have walked onto many international rugby teams, but they had their chances severely limited by living in the shadow of All Black legends. However, no one has felt the burden of playing second fiddle to a legend more than Stephen Donald. The bar set by Dan Carter is so high that mistakes…

Both away teams triumphed in the ITM Cup finals this weekend. Canterbury suffocated Waikato at Waikato Stadium, winning in a tryless Championship final 12-3. The Premiership final could not have been more different. Hawkes Bay won a try-fest in Palmerston North to emerge victorious and gain promotion to the ITM Championship next year.

Canterbury’s victory was their fourth national provincial championship in a row, led to all of them by coach Rob Penney.

Hawkes Bay’s victory was remarkable for them being able to overcome their squad being decimated by World Cup obligations and injuries. Hika Elliot and…