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Contributors

Gregor Paul

Gregor is New Zealand's best-read rugby commentator and analyst having been the voice of the Herald's rugby coverage since 2004. He's also written seven books about rugby and edited NZ Rugby World since 2007.

FEATURE
Opinion

Barrett's belated midfield shift will one day become All Blacks folklore

Jordie has revolutionised the All Blacks attack from No 12 so why was there total resistance within the coaching group to shift hi…

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
07 Oct 2023, 10:49
FEATURE
Opinion

Wayne Smith approach to defence could be All Blacks' secret weapon

A last-minute arrival by Wayne Smith helped propel the All Blacks to a third World Cup title in 2015.

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
02 Oct 2023, 10:17
FEATURE
Opinion

Super Rugby Pacific's chickens are coming home to roost

The All Blacks and Wallabies have fallen down the world pecking order and there's no obvious end in sight for the slide.

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
29 Sep 2023, 4:18
FEATURE
Opinion

It's time to see if New Zealand Rugby's gamble will pay off

13 months ago New Zealand Rugby made the bold decision to stick with Ian Foster. Was it the right call?

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
25 Sep 2023, 11:56
FEATURE
Opinion

The All Blacks must buck the trend and double down on expansive rugby

What lies ahead is a fascinating test of the All Blacks conviction in their ability to run themselves to victory in this tournamen…

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
20 Sep 2023, 10:01
FEATURE
Opinion

The scrum will be the backbone of any All Blacks World Cup success

The All Blacks coaches have come to believe that if the team scrum well, the team will play well.

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
17 Sep 2023, 13:46
FEATURE
Opinion

New Zealand's world-class talent deserves world-class leadership

While the potential of the All Blacks players and coaching group is obvious, the review into the state of NZR’s leadership has s…

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
13 Sep 2023, 4:53
FEATURE
Opinion

The All Blacks are impossibly difficult to understand

The All Blacks are capable of being both brilliant and awful in the space of 20 minutes.

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
10 Sep 2023, 5:41
FEATURE
Opinion

Commercial pressure on the All Blacks to deliver the grandest prize

One of sport's biggest brands, the more you win, the more big companies want to be associated with you, but at what cost?

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
04 Sep 2023, 9:55
FEATURE
Opinion

Why this could be the Rugby World Cup of disruptors

As emerging nations show their potential, this Rugby World Cup has major upset potential

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
01 Sep 2023, 15:44
FEATURE
Opinion

'New Zealand have a deeply ingrained knack of losing their discipline'

If the All Blacks are losing the physical battle, they lose their discipline too.

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
28 Aug 2023, 16:42
FEATURE
Opinion

'The All Blacks have quietly morphed into Ireland'

How New Zealand - and Joe Schmidt - scrutinised the Irish playbook and liked what they saw.

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
22 Aug 2023, 14:33
FEATURE
Opinion

Eddie Jones' grenades mask the need for a complete rebuild of Australian rugby

Eddie Jones, the irascible Wallabies head coach, departed Australia with a trail of gunfire peppering the media

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
19 Aug 2023, 1:29
FEATURE
Opinion

Why the pain of 2019 is the All Blacks' greatest weapon

It may be true that to you have to suffer defeat at a World Cup before you can win one.

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
15 Aug 2023, 13:05
FEATURE
Opinion

'The Rugby Championship is in danger of becoming an unlevel playing field'

Player welfare risks to much-travelled Springboks and Pumas are growing unacceptably high.

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
12 Aug 2023, 8:51
FEATURE
Opinion

'I did hope it would expand more' - how do New Zealand Rugby capitalise on surge of women's game?

What must New Zealand Rugby do to capture the momentum generated by the Women's World Cup?

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
10 Aug 2023, 16:16
FEATURE
Opinion

Why the Bledisloe Cup's future could be decided by a fly-half arms race

New Zealand and Australia have the crucial task of developing callow play-makers on their next Rugby World Cup cycles.

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
07 Aug 2023, 9:32
FEATURE
Opinion

All Blacks don't need any 'favours' from Wallabies in Dunedin

After a tough few years, the All Blacks aren't in need of any further 'adversity' ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
03 Aug 2023, 15:21
FEATURE
Opinion

Scott Barrett comes of age to boost the All Blacks' World Cup crusade

The performances of Scott Barrett have threatened to break up the legendary partnership of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
31 Jul 2023, 9:34
FEATURE
Opinion

The All Blacks must break type and embrace the driving maul

Seen as plodding and lacking invention, the driving maul has its critics, but if the All Blacks are to succeed in France, they nee…

Gregor Paul
Gregor Paul
26 Jul 2023, 13:47
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