Opinion
NZR cannot afford to sit idle on appointing the next All Blacks coach
Signposting that Ian Foster would ascend to Steve Hansen’s throne left the All Blacks without options back in 2019.
Hamish Bidwell
06 Feb 2023, 20:06
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 All Blacks resting policy may actually work
But look at the alternatives. It’s so long since anyone other than New Zealand and South Africa has won a Rugby World Cup it’s…
Hamish Bidwell
31 Jan 2023, 21:51
Opinion
The recruitment of Burns is an admission of defeat for the nanny state model
If nothing else, the recruitment of Burns is an admission of defeat. It says our pathways are broken and we need other people’s …
Hamish Bidwell
23 Jan 2023, 15:07
Opinion
Once again Rugby Australia have run rings around New Zealand Rugby
Rugby Australia possesses the stomach for hard decisions that New Zealand Rugby do not after sacking Dave Rennie.
Hamish Bidwell
16 Jan 2023, 13:17
Opinion
All that matters for NZR this year is the All Blacks
This year is solely about the men’s Rugby World Cup. Super Rugby will be sacrificed in the name of the greater good, the NPC stu…
Hamish Bidwell
09 Jan 2023, 18:38
Opinion
New Zealand Rugby should treat Beauden Barrett like a French footballer
I read and hear that the floodgates would open if Barrett left. That fellow All Blacks would follow suit and Super Rugby would be …
Hamish Bidwell
14 Dec 2022, 23:50
Opinion
Scott Robertson clearly has enemies in high places
Some people’s faces simply don’t fit, so we have to assume that this iteration of the All Blacks and New Zealand Rugby (NZR) d…
Hamish Bidwell
05 Dec 2022, 17:03
Opinion
The All Blacks best XV is still up in the air as World Cup year looms
It would be a stretch to confidently say we have an outstanding or clearly defined All Blacks first XV in our midst.
Hamish Bidwell
29 Nov 2022, 13:05
Opinion
All Blacks' season defined long before their shambolic draw to England
I read and heard for weeks that playing England at Twickenham would define the All Blacks’ season. Nonsense.
Hamish Bidwell
22 Nov 2022, 14:06
The Black Ferns are the one thing that can save New Zealand Rugby
The All Blacks and NZR would benefit greatly from taking a few pages from the Black Ferns’ playbook. Be open, be accessible, be …
Hamish Bidwell
15 Nov 2022, 16:12
Opinion
Women's rugby has come so far, but there's still so much further it can go
A generation of future Black Ferns are being inspired as we speak, in numbers that would’ve been unimaginable only two or three …
Hamish Bidwell
08 Nov 2022, 19:21
Opinion
We expect so little from the All Blacks almost losing to Japan doesn't register
But do you hear and hue and cry from our rugby public? No, you don’t because, as I suggested last week, we’ve become condition…
Hamish Bidwell
31 Oct 2022, 20:29
Opinion
I can't believe that this is what rugby in New Zealand has come to
Mils Muliaina’s comment that it would be acceptable for the All Blacks to lose to Scotland, on their upcoming tour, is the sadly…
Hamish Bidwell
25 Oct 2022, 15:28
Opinion
Have the All Blacks XV if you like, but make it New Zealand's genuine second XV
What’s the point of Tupou Vaa’i, Stephen Perofeta, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Folau Fakatava and others traipsing round with the All…
Hamish Bidwell
17 Oct 2022, 21:53
Opinion
Rugby needs to be the winner at this World Cup, not necessarily New Zealand
Let’s let the tournament breathe first. Let’s get a few more games under our belts, let’s get to the knockout rounds and the…
Hamish Bidwell
10 Oct 2022, 23:40
Opinion
If the Wallabies don't want Dave Rennie, the All Blacks should take him
The ills that plague Australia’s national team have little or nothing to do with Dave Rennie.
Hamish Bidwell
27 Sep 2022, 5:03
Opinion
We are going to ride the rollercoaster with this All Blacks team
What do the All Blacks have, beyond talent? We simply pick our most-talented players and then try and find a spot for them.
Hamish Bidwell
20 Sep 2022, 20:43
Opinion
Will Mathieu Raynal be the star of the show in the first Bledisloe test?
Who’ll be the star of the show at Marvel Stadium on Thursday? Will it be Rieko Ioane? Captain Fantastic Sam Cane? Marika Koroibe…
Hamish Bidwell
11 Sep 2022, 23:53
Opinion
The All Blacks can't have it both ways if tests aren't meaningful
The team and NZR can’t have it both ways. Either every test result is important or none of them are.
Hamish Bidwell
04 Sep 2022, 22:11
Opinion
New Zealand Rugby can't afford for the All Blacks to fail
Commercialising the All Blacks’ brand relies upon the team winning and they haven’t done a lot of that lately
Hamish Bidwell
28 Aug 2022, 21:56
