Opinion
The All Blacks will go unbeaten now that everything is 'right' again
The All Blacks are going to win and that no-one will be accountable in the unlikely event that they don’t.
Hamish Bidwell
23 Aug 2022, 20:32
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
NZR will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid admitting wrong
Whether the decision to retain Ian Foster as All Blacks head coach amounts to the blind leading the blind remains to be seen.
Hamish Bidwell
17 Aug 2022, 20:13
Opinion
It was put up or shut up for a few All Blacks at Ellis Park
It’s my view that Foster came into the All Blacks’ head coaching role believing he was entitled to the same respect his predec…
Hamish Bidwell
14 Aug 2022, 23:18
Opinion
Producing proper test match forwards not high on New Zealand's priority list
Nine scrums out of 10 against the All Blacks, you’ll win a penalty. Let’s say half of those are in kicking range, so that’s …
Hamish Bidwell
08 Aug 2022, 3:55
When is it going to be the fault of the All Blacks' players for their results
Robinson and company aren’t out there on the park. That’s still the players’ domain and just because things may be shambolic…
Hamish Bidwell
01 Aug 2022, 23:52
Opinion
The All Blacks coaching drama has breathed life into The Rugby Championship
Well, they’ve made their bed now. They’ve staked everything on Foster and they’ve absolved him of any blame.
Hamish Bidwell
25 Jul 2022, 21:34
Opinion
With these All Blacks it's about coaching and leadership, plain and simple
The losses being piled up by this coaching regime is doing more damage to the All Blacks’ brand than any admission of failure ev…
Hamish Bidwell
19 Jul 2022, 0:20
Opinion
No one fears the All Blacks anymore, the team's reputation is in tatters
Ireland barely bothered to celebrate their 23-12 win. Victory over these All Blacks is so commonplace as to only merit a high-five…
Hamish Bidwell
11 Jul 2022, 0:44
Opinion
Ireland may have fired their best shot already in this series
Their scrum was lamentable and I thought they played too laterally. The All Blacks can be beaten up the middle and Ireland didn’…
Hamish Bidwell
04 Jul 2022, 2:24
Opinion
The All Blacks cannot lose this week
The addition of Joe Schmidt to the coaching group is an incredible stroke of luck. He’d have been a welcome addition to the staf…
Hamish Bidwell
27 Jun 2022, 23:01
Opinion
The Crusaders' win a disaster for the prematurely picked All Blacks
And on the strength of Saturday’s decider at Eden Park, it’s a shame the All Blacks were picked so prematurely.
Hamish Bidwell
19 Jun 2022, 23:09
Opinion
Sam Cane as captain limits the All Blacks' loose forward trio
Cane is captain and has to play somewhere, while Ioane’s probable inclusion in the first test team to play Ireland probably owes…
Hamish Bidwell
14 Jun 2022, 0:54
Opinion
Why Jordie Barrett at second-five for the All Blacks makes sense
Barrett’s performances for the Hurricanes at 12 might not excite All Blacks coach Ian Foster, but they do enthuse me. And many o…
Hamish Bidwell
07 Jun 2022, 21:39
Opinion
Foster's uncertainty and confusion an alarming aspect of NZR's political stunt
Steve Hansen remains a very hard act for Foster to follow. Hansen was a superb communicator. Considered, commanding, challenging: …
Hamish Bidwell
30 May 2022, 19:18
Opinion
The Classic All Blacks could be a shining light for NZR
New Zealand’s not short of former All Blacks. Nor are we limited in our affection for them.
Hamish Bidwell
23 May 2022, 23:00
Opinion
Taking Rugby World Cups to America at the expense of actual rugby nations is harmful
I can understand, even applaud, the idea of Australia being awarded the 2027 tournament by World Rugby, but I’m afraid I don’t…
Hamish Bidwell
16 May 2022, 22:25
Opinion
The Nations Championship is a novel idea but won't fix the real problem
What happens when it becomes clear the competition’s a closed shop and our Pacific neighbours fall further and further behind an…
Hamish Bidwell
11 May 2022, 0:57
Opinion
New Zealand's teams are getting worse and a good deal of that is down to coaching
And so we have Leon MacDonald of the Blues, mentioned in All Blacks dispatches. Should it all go wrong in 2023, would MacDonald he…
Hamish Bidwell
03 May 2022, 22:45
Opinion
Rugby has to endure the cards if it wants to have a future
Not only will it cease to be a viable participation sport, lessening the volume of those who might progress to the professional ra…
Hamish Bidwell
26 Apr 2022, 20:21
Opinion
Beauden Barrett is showing what he can do without the Horror-canes pack
There’s no Barrett v Richie Mo’unga debate. There’s Barrett as the undisputed starter at 10 and then those that back him up …
Hamish Bidwell
20 Apr 2022, 19:00
