Opinion
Slaughtering the Wallabies will make the All Blacks real contenders
So I want to see them be ruthless on Saturday. To treat Australia as a team of consequence, rather than one in the midst of a mass…
Hamish Bidwell
24 Jul 2023, 20:14
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
Spanking an old Springboks side not the best yardstick
Starting Malcom Marx would be a help to South Africa. As would picking some of the more youthful personnel, who beat Australia in …
Hamish Bidwell
16 Jul 2023, 21:37
Opinion
The All Blacks looked like Ireland against Argentina
What a joy to see the All Blacks using the ball to beat the man and to have attackers committing defenders before offloading. It f…
Hamish Bidwell
11 Jul 2023, 17:42
Opinion
Why the All Blacks don't play anything like the Crusaders is beyond comprehension
The enterprising Chiefs didn’t look dissimilar to All Blacks sides of recent vintage, with the Crusaders resembling Ireland or F…
Hamish Bidwell
27 Jun 2023, 19:00
Opinion
The Blues proved once again they cannot make athletes better rugby players
As the Crusaders were methodically dismantling the Blues in Christchurch last Friday night, it wasn’t the quality of rugby that …
Hamish Bidwell
19 Jun 2023, 22:59
I can’t let the comments of Ardie Savea and Jason Holland go unchallenged
Maybe a win over the Brumbies would have flattered them, but they still could have achieved it if Jordie Barrett had opted to pas…
Hamish Bidwell
15 Jun 2023, 17:38
Opinion
Dane Coles upholds the expectations and obligations of being an All Black
Coles makes the game personal and refuses to yield to anyone. That’s a trait more athletes should have and why he can make an en…
Hamish Bidwell
08 Jun 2023, 20:26
Opinion
Crusaders' coaching job well overdue for red-and-black man Penney
If you coached the Crusaders in those days, then you tended to look a little suspiciously at your Canterbury counterparts. And, if…
Hamish Bidwell
07 Jun 2023, 17:32
Opinion
The silver lining of a move to the Crusaders for Levi Aumua
If a player, such as Aumua, uses that opportunity to make the All Blacks XV, as he did last year, and progress to the Crusaders an…
Hamish Bidwell
23 May 2023, 18:28
Opinion
Tuivasa-Sheck's code swap a cautionary tale for Suaalii and Rugby Australia
Like Laumape was, Suaalii isn’t too far removed from his 1st XV days. In Tuivasa-Sheck’s case, it was 10 years since he’d pl…
Hamish Bidwell
15 May 2023, 20:49
Opinion
Competitive Super Rugby franchises are in Suva, Apia and Nuku’alofa
The argument against allowing the Drua to play in Fiji full-time or to base Moana Pasifika in Samoa or Tonga - instead of Auckland…
Hamish Bidwell
10 May 2023, 18:22
Opinion
Crusaders' empire hasn't fallen and isn't even beginning to crumble
In that time, the Crusaders have won 10 titles, been beaten finalists three times and lost at the semi-final stage on five occasio…
Hamish Bidwell
02 May 2023, 18:19
Opinion
It's easy to be seduced by McKenzie's Super Rugby form
That’s no knock on McKenzie or Spencer. They’ve had brilliant careers, with highlight reels to be proud of. But every player h…
Hamish Bidwell
25 Apr 2023, 0:48
Opinion
Appointing Scott Robertson early could be convincing All Blacks to stay
Just as Robertson appeared poised to inherit the coaching job last year, so was Ioane linked with a permanent move to Japan after …
Hamish Bidwell
18 Apr 2023, 23:11
Opinion
Don't expect Beauden Barrett to do it all himself
Players can’t be exceptional forever. Particularly the runners, as Blues first five-eighth Beauden Barrett predominantly was for…
Hamish Bidwell
05 Apr 2023, 22:49
Opinion
Robertson's anti-climatic appointment ends sorry coaching saga
When everyone knows you should be coach - and that you’ll eventually get the job one day - a lot of the suspense and excitement …
Hamish Bidwell
21 Mar 2023, 15:58
Opinion
Gone are the days when Super Rugby captured interest for its own sake
The Super Rugby Pacific season has well-and-truly started, after all, not that you’d really know from what’s getting written.
Hamish Bidwell
14 Mar 2023, 17:28
Opinion
What if Darcy Swain made a throat-slash gesture to a New Zealand player?
If Wallabies lock Darcy Swain made a throat-slitting gesture at a New Zealand player, how would we like that? And, if not Swain, t…
Hamish Bidwell
06 Mar 2023, 20:17
Opinion
The less said by Scott Robertson the better
Foster is neither a public relations asset, nor the owner of an accomplished coaching record, but he looks better than NZR right n…
Hamish Bidwell
27 Feb 2023, 22:45
Opinion
The All Blacks don't deserve to be let off the hook with 'underdog' status
But don’t take my word for it. It’s All Blacks great Justin Marshall who’s saying New Zealand’s now a world cup smokey.
Hamish Bidwell
18 Feb 2023, 18:16
