Opinion
Sam Cane was unfairly cast in Richie McCaw's shadow for too long
Sam Cane is someone with a lot to offer New Zealand, well beyond the realm of rugby.
Hamish Bidwell
21 May 2024, 0:05
Contributors
Hamish Bidwell
@HamishBidwell
Hamish has been an opinion and sports writer for over 20 years in New Zealand, featuring on RNZ, New Zealand Herald, Stuff.co.nz, and RugbyPass.
Opinion
The game in this country is about more than just the All Blacks
Either way, if the NZR chief executive can’t rally the provincial delegates, then what place does he have running the outfit at …
Hamish Bidwell
30 May 2024, 0:47
Opinion
What happened to Penney was a breach of trust
The decline of trust in the media won’t have been arrested by the recent ambushing and vilification of Crusaders coach Rob Penne…
Hamish Bidwell
06 Jun 2024, 0:55
Opinion
France snubbing New Zealand tour shows the difference in priorities
But that doesn’t diminish the fact that putting All Black interests over and above every other facet of rugby has not served New…
Hamish Bidwell
12 Jun 2024, 17:52
Opinion
Scott Barrett was the safe, obvious choice as All Blacks captain
We’re so short of locks that there ought not be any questions about his place in the side, as there always was with Sam Cane. Ba…
Hamish Bidwell
30 Jun 2024, 17:46
Opinion
England is nice but the Springboks will be a true test of the All Blacks' mettle
It’s not until the All Blacks meet the Springboks in South Africa in September that we’ll be able to judge if this coaching gr…
Hamish Bidwell
04 Jul 2024, 20:30
Opinion
New Zealand's expectations of the All Blacks are too high
I think the All Blacks should beat England’s rugby team by 20 points, in Auckland on Saturday night. Just as I thought they woul…
Hamish Bidwell
10 Jul 2024, 16:50
Opinion
All Blacks forgetting the play calls against England doesn't inspire confidence
I can’t say the performances of the All Blacks, nor the utterances of their attack coach Leon MacDonald, have filled me with eno…
Hamish Bidwell
16 Jul 2024, 23:30
Opinion
Ardie Savea's Moana move solves one problem and opens another
It will be nice to see him play for Moana Pasifika next year - albeit on All Blacks-managed minutes - but then he’s back off to …
Hamish Bidwell
23 Jul 2024, 20:20
Opinion
Scott Robertson is in rare company with latest ringing endorsement
Mains basically said new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson is exceptional, that the players are already emotionally invested in the…
Hamish Bidwell
31 Jul 2024, 18:11
New Zealand needs a reliable No.10 like Harry Plummer
So I’m encouraged that the All Blacks are having a look at Plummer. How much he plays - if ever - remains to be seen.
Hamish Bidwell
07 Aug 2024, 1:15
Opinion
The Pumas simply hung in there long enough to watch the All Blacks implode
You could be forgiven for thinking New Zealand sent a bunch of boys out on a man’s errand, against Argentina in Wellington.
Hamish Bidwell
12 Aug 2024, 23:02
Opinion
The All Blacks' best gameday 23 looking ahead to the next Rugby World Cup
As we plot a path towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup, I remain unconvinced New Zealand will veer away from players.
Hamish Bidwell
21 Aug 2024, 0:08
Opinion
The All Blacks might just con the Springboks this time around
I just think a siege mentality will be sufficient to see the All Blacks rise to the sort of level we’ve seen so infrequently in …
Hamish Bidwell
27 Aug 2024, 23:36
Opinion
Do the Hurricanes Poua want our support or not
The Hurricanes Poua haka, which Lee says will not be performed again, is divisive and insulting. It speaks of a level of privilege…
Hamish Bidwell
05 Mar 2024, 20:26
Opinion
The predictability problem with Super Rugby Pacific
I don’t want to see the Chiefs or Crusaders weakened but, for Super Rugby Pacific to endure, things have to be done to strengthe…
Hamish Bidwell
28 Feb 2024, 14:44
Opinion
Don't be fearful of life without Whitelock, Retallick or Smith
I do have reservations about the depth of some of our Super Rugby Pacific squads, but not in our ability to still find enough capa…
Hamish Bidwell
20 Feb 2024, 21:54
Opinion
Bledisloe Cup rugby is just better during the day time
Australia has hosted three day time Bledisloe Cup clashes in the professional era: in 1995, 1996 and 2021.
Hamish Bidwell
14 Feb 2024, 14:32
Opinion
Please stop throwing good money at the Rebels
Australia has too many Super Rugby franchises, from a high-performance perspective. I doubt many people would lament the passing o…
Hamish Bidwell
30 Jan 2024, 17:34
Opinion
Surely a man of Joe Schmidt’s track record could find something better
Surely a man of Joe Schmidt’s track record, contacts and acumen could find a cushier role than Wallabies coach.
Hamish Bidwell
23 Jan 2024, 20:11
