Following on from yesterday’s article on Daniel Braid and Tanerau Latimer, 29 year old 4 test All Black Daniel Braid has now confirmed his return to New Zealand.

Braid has impressed this year as the “marquee import” for the Queensland Reds, with the current set of break-down rules giving him the chance to really show his skill set. He has now signed for his old team, the Blues and the Auckland provinical team. He won’t be available to play for the All Blacks until after the Tri-Nations, as his contract does not begin until July 1st. It…

After years of trying to secure a place in the All Blacks, it looks like it took a move to Australia for Daniel Braid to get the attention he always wanted from the NZRU. With the new tackle ball rules and the Reds form this season, Braid is shining in Australia during the 2010 Super 14. His strength was always his linking play, and the new rules are really bringing that to the fore. His value to the All Blacks has been intensified with a lack of a real frontrunner to…

Always a strong point of New Zealand rugby, the loose forwards are not too hard to pick. No one is really challenging the current All Black mix of Jerome Kaino, Adam Thomson, Richie McCaw, Tanerau Latimer, Kieran Read and Rodney So’oialo. Of that group Tanerau Latimer from the Chiefs gets in especially by default of no one else emerging on the scene.

Something that needs to happen as soon as possible is that Richie McCaw needs to start playing openside for the Crusaders. Regardless of all the talk that McCaw will…

Round 8 of the Super 14 sees many of the teams resembling a virtual casualty ward of injuries. The Chiefs have been particularly hard hit through new injuries to key players, captain Mils Muliaina and playmaker Stephen Donald. They join All Blacks Aled de Malmanche, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Tanerau Latimer, Kevin O’Neill as well as props Nathan White and James McGougan on the Chiefs’ injury list. Coach Ian Foster will be hoping at least a few will be able to convince the medical staff they are fit to play. Mils Muliaina, a key figure in the…