Why the Blues' triple playmaker experiment wasn't successful despite victory over Bulls
The Blues will be counting down the days, and probably the minutes, until the coming of Beauden Barrett.
Campbell Burnes
25 Feb 2020, 21:26
Contributors
Campbell Burnes
Campbell Burnes is one of New Zealand's most experienced active rugby writers, having first taken up the quill in 2000. He cut his teeth as the Western Leader sports editor from 2002-04, winning the NZ Herald/DJ Cameron Young Writers' Award at the 2004 TP McLean National Sports Journalism Awards. From 2005-12 he was deputy editor of Rugby News magazine before entering the freelance world, where he still lives, writing on sport and occasionally non-sporting issues. His work has appeared in myriad print publications and online, including the NZ Herald and the Irish Examiner. Burnes has also made regular radio and TV appearances over the years, and has written for Rugby Pass since 2017, the same year he was media manager for Auckland Rugby. He is also the co-editor of the Rugby Almanack.
Why the Crusaders are more like the great Auckland provincial sides of the '80s
Every champion team needs a slice of X-factor to break open a tight clash in which they are not quite firing in all cylinders.
Campbell Burnes
30 Jun 2020, 20:50
Unfortunately for the Chiefs the world's best lock has his feet up amidst injury crisis
Chiefs fans will be cursing these accursed sabbaticals while their team, 4-2 by mid-March, and still well in the mix to win its th…
Campbell Burnes
06 Jul 2020, 19:38
The Mo'unga-Barrett debate for the All Blacks first five finally settled after Christchurch
That should have been the thinking before last Saturday night’s epic Crusaders-Blues in Christchurch, but the Crusaders’ victo…
Campbell Burnes
13 Jul 2020, 0:16
Eight things that would make Super Rugby a must-watch competition in 2021
Whatever form Super Rugby takes in 2021, the stagnating competition needs a shot in the arm to keep the fans' eyes glued to televi…
Campbell Burnes
21 Jul 2020, 21:51
'Prototype of the new breed': What Cullen Grace's surprise All Blacks call-up means for the next World Cup
No one picked Cullen Grace to be an All Black so soon. Now he looms as the prototype athlete the All Blacks could base their World…
Campbell Burnes
08 Sep 2020, 2:50
Read, Messam, Thomson, Rutledge: The Mitre 10 Cup veterans who are defying rugby's youthful standards
They say rugby is a young man’s game, but the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup has welcomed back more veterans, seasoned campaigners, than ever…
Campbell Burnes
17 Sep 2020, 19:50
The 11 players the All Blacks should call upon to bolster their Rugby Championship squad
The All Blacks selectors will soon name the extra 11 players to travel to Australia for the Rugby Championship, which is good news…
Campbell Burnes
28 Sep 2020, 19:48
Kiwis in Europe: Why New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs still miss Charlie Ngatai
New Zealand rugby, and the Chiefs in particular, still miss Charlie Ngatai, who continued to show his class for Lyon in the French…
Campbell Burnes
05 Oct 2020, 18:10
'Certain arrogance': Why the All Blacks didn't shoot for a drop goal against the Wallabies
Jonny Wilkinson, Hugo Porta, Naas Botha, Dan Carter and Grant would have snapped a dropped goal in similar circumstances. So why d…
Campbell Burnes
12 Oct 2020, 17:30
The lesson the Six Nations can teach New Zealand Rugby when it comes to All Blacks tests
Sunday’s Bledisloe Cup encounter at Eden Park answered several questions and raised a few others.
Campbell Burnes
21 Oct 2020, 0:21
Aaron Cruden no joke(r) for Montpellier
The 2019-20 season of the Top 14 is well underway in France, with plenty of New Zealanders in the thick of the action.
Campbell Burnes
01 Sep 2019, 20:15
Pressure is off for returning Turbos veteran Andre Taylor
Times have certainly changed since Andre Taylor cut his teeth in New Zealand’s NPC in 2006, but the 31-year-old is back with a m…
Campbell Burnes
30 Jul 2019, 0:48
All Blacks beware: Springboks returning to happy hunting ground in Wellington
History suggests that, of all the New Zealand cities, the Springboks perform best in the capital, whether it was at the good old A…
Campbell Burnes
22 Jul 2019, 21:19
The original Damian McKenzie: Wallabies set for rollercoaster ride with return of James O'Connor
If James O'Connor can turn back the clock and give us some of his old magic, then the Wallabies are in for a ride over the next th…
Campbell Burnes
18 Jul 2019, 21:47
Why not selecting Akira Ioane is a missed opportunity for the All Blacks
Akira Ioane will be an All Blacks regular one day, but it will not be under this regime, and that is a crying shame, writes Campbe…
Campbell Burnes
12 Jul 2019, 0:37
Uncertainty lingers as All Blacks still no closer to finding their starting No 6
There are no less than nine players selected who can suit up at loose forward in this All Blacks squad, yet we are no clearer to d…
Campbell Burnes
02 Jul 2019, 22:12
The Paekakariki Express: How Christian Cullen became the greatest attacking fullback of all-time
Matt Burke remains the best all-round fullback Campbell Burnes seen in nearly 40 years of playing, watching and writing about the …
Campbell Burnes
24 Jun 2019, 1:03
How the gutsy Chiefs have turned their season around
The Chiefs were 0-4 when there were calls across New Zealand for Colin Cooper's head, but the veteran coach has helped pull off th…
Campbell Burnes
16 Jun 2019, 21:00
The undervalued skill that could be crucial at this year's World Cup
Colin Slade showed off one of the more undervalued skills in rugby while playing for the Barbarians against England last week. Cam…
Campbell Burnes
06 Jun 2019, 19:46
