Gregor Paul
Rugby analyst
Rugby analyst and feature writer
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Check out Gregor’s latest content
Gregor Paul: How All Blacks can close gap on Springboks
OPINION: There are three key reasons to believe that they can.
Gregor Paul: In defeat, ABs might have hit on a winning formula
OPINION: The All Blacks hit on a refined game plan we should see more of.
Gregor Paul: Narrative that's plagued 2024 returns to haunt All Blacks in Paris
OPINION: Scott Robertson's side fell to a fourth loss of the year, in familiar style.
Inside Rugby: The big stain marring All Blacks v France clash
A prominent sponsorship issue ought to cause embarrassment.
Gregor Paul: Why Beauden Barrett got the nod over Damian McKenzie
OPINION: A high-impact punch in the closing stages appears crucial in selection.
Gregor Paul: Razor's success doesn't justify NZR's coach selection process
OPINION: NZR must not use confirmation bias to convince themselves they were right.
Gregor Paul: The moment Ioane showed he's a world-class centre
OPINION: Maybe Rieko Ioane should spark a personal feud with everyone he plays.
Gregor Paul: All Blacks show brains over brawn to put Ireland in their place
OPINION: Everything finally clicked for Scott Robertson's side at Aviva Stadium.
Gregor Paul: Razor’s All Blacks reawaken in Dublin
OPINION: The All Blacks now seem capable of consistent rather than sporadic brilliance.
Inside Rugby: Why Ireland can overtake the All Blacks as the game's biggest brand
OPINION: The next 10 years should see a seismic shift in the game's landscape.
Gregor Paul: Forget Springboks, Ireland is Robertson's biggest All Blacks test
OPINION: Saturday in Dublin will really show where the 2024 All Blacks are.
Gregor Paul: All Blacks must follow Ireland's example in filling hole at No 10
OPINION: New Zealand have stumbled where Ireland succeeded this year.
Gregor Paul: Inside the bitter feud between Ireland and All Blacks
The rivalry has intensified recently, leading to heightened animosity and fierce matches.
Gregor Paul: The glass ceiling sitting between the ABs’ ambition and their ability
OPINION: Infringements have big consequences in the context of a close game.
Scott Robertson's secret weapon finally comes to life in Twickenham victory
After struggling for impact in 2024, the All Blacks replacements proved the difference.
What Beauden starting means for McKenzie
By picking Barrett to start, there is effectively a double admission by selectors.
Inside Rugby: The money and power behind World Rugby's chair vote
OPINION: England have already proven they have the greater brand value.
Gregor Paul: ABs star reflects on English confidence and the power of Twickenham
England had lessons to learn last time they faced the All Blacks.
How the All Blacks became rugby’s cultural icons in Japan
'The players are very popular here. There is an aura about them ... it generates profile.'
Gregor Paul: How Japan became the envy of the rugby world
The land of the rising sun has overtaken all competitors to become the game's epicentre.
'Rugby from the future': Major tactical shift shown in All Blacks' Japan win
Scott Robertson has shown he's able to adapt to what the Northern Hemisphere will bring.
Why so many All Blacks want to play for Japanese clubs
'They really are ahead of the game,' says Robbie Deans.
Land of the rising game: The World Cup wins that turned Japan on to rugby
After two major tournament events, 'the sport went boom in Japan'.
Inside Rugby: Soul at risk as ABs chase yen while NPC faces funding cuts
OPINION: NZ Rugby’s commercial focus risks the sport’s grassroots and provincial future.
Gregor Paul: What All Blacks naming doesn't say about England test
OPINION: The opportunity was there for Scott Robertson to dig deeper into his talent pool.
Next steps in NZ Rugby governance reform near, director roles deadline approaches
The Herald understands seven of the current 10-member board will re-apply.
Gregor Paul: Sky and NZ Rugby – partners or competitors in content war?
OPINION: It’s a situation in which there are no winners, but one loser – the rugby fan.
Gregor Paul: Damian McKenzie’s future in flux as All Blacks tour looms
OPINION: Damian McKenzie needs to be delicately and expertly handled
Gregor Paul: Why NZ, All Blacks should celebrate Australian leading World Rugby
OPINION: Former Australian flanker Brent Robinson can bring the change the sport needs.
Gregor Paul: What All Blacks XV broadcast tells us about NZR's plans
OPINION: The road to financial viability for NZR+ has long been clearly signposted.
Gregor Paul: Razor's northern tour squad should come as no surprise
OPINION: Scott Robertson has no margins to play with.
From Foster to Robertson: Are the All Blacks truly rebuilding?
Gregor Paul breaks down the contrasts and comparisons between the two.
Gregor Paul: Who Robertson, All Blacks must fear the most on northern tour
OPINION: Tests against England, Ireland and France will ask questions of the new coach.
Gregor Paul: Wellington win shows All Blacks are learning
OPINION: It was a reassuring if not emphatic way to end the Rugby Championship
Beauden Barrett’s second wind: The All Blacks star’s road to 2027
The All Blacks star speaks out.
Gregor Paul: Why does Cane not get the respect he deserves?
OPINION: The former captain has never received the same love as his predecessors.
Gregor Paul: How Robertson lost control of the Damian McKenzie narrative
OPINION: The All Blacks coach has done his first-choice No 10 no favours.
Gregor Paul: The refereeing error from Bledisloe Cup opener that must be addressed
OPINION: There were clear discrepancies in officiating in Sydney.
Gregor Paul: All Blacks need Barrett to improve as captain to end 2024 struggles
OPINION: Barrett, like his predecessors, has struggled to get to grips with the role.
Gregor Paul: The dangerous narrative All Blacks must avoid buying into
OPINION: To be scrapping at the death the way they were was a sign not of courageousness.
Gregor Paul: How Rugby Australia could beat NZ Rugby in the financial game
OPINION: Poor old Wallabies are trying to claw their way up the world rankings.
Gregor Paul: Has Scott Robertson given up on Will Jordan at fullback?
OPINION: The long-awaited selection has been shelved after just one test.
Gregor Paul: Losing Schmidt to Australia highlights NZ Rugby's true decline
OPINION: Ian Foster's former assistant can return to haunt his old side this weekend.
Gregor Paul: How the All Blacks are struggling to recover from Covid-19
OPINION: Back-to-back defeats against the Springboks leave the All Blacks at a rare low.
Gregor Paul: The reasons why league is ready to usurp rugby
OPINION: Never in the last 30 years has league looked so strong and rugby so weak.
Gregor Paul: The 20-year selection policy that is hurting All Blacks
OPINION: New Zealand's greatest strength is starting to look like a weakness.
Gregor Paul: How the Springboks have overtaken the All Blacks as rugby's true leaders
OPINION: The All Blacks trail South Africa in every facet of the game.
Gregor Paul: Can NZ Rugby find the leader it needs to save the game?
OPINION: Looking at the problems the national union faces, and who could fix them.
Gregor Paul: The future has finally arrived for Razor's ABs
Opinion: Mark this down as the moment the Scott Robertson era truly separated itself.
Gregor Paul: NZ Rugby has December deadline to appoint new board
The criteria under NZ Rugby's Proposal 2 has been amended.
Gregor Paul: NZR's stance on overseas-based All Blacks exposed – again
OPINION: New Zealand Rugby not budging on selection continues to hurt the All Blacks.
Gregor Paul: Enough beauty, not enough beast: What went wrong for the All Blacks
OPINION: Scott Robertson's side have plenty to fix heading to Cape Town next weekend.
Nations Championship the main aim for World Rugby hopeful
Former Wallaby Brett Robinson is hoping to become the first Southern Hemisphere chairman.
Gregor Paul: How was MacDonald, Robertson partnership ever sanctioned by NZR?
OPINION: This story needs greater scrutiny.
Gregor Paul: Door open for Cane to be All Blacks' saviour against Springboks
OPINION: The former captain might be underdone, but the All Blacks need him.
Gregor Paul: All Blacks can't claim to be world's best without toppling Springboks, Ireland
OPINION: Both teams can claim an edge over the All Blacks after recent results.
Gregor Paul: Were signs missed that led to MacDonald's ABs exit?
OPINION: Did they miss the signs or simply choose to ignore them?
Razor v Rassie: All Blacks coach enters new rivalry – Gregor Paul
OPINION: Scott Robertson will need to be sharp to deflect the Springboks coach's tactics.
Gregor Paul: Where the All Blacks have been constantly excellent in 2024
OPINION: This is where the bulk of intrigue lies when the All Blacks meet South Africa.
Gregor Paul: TJ Perenara’s redemption performance a classic
OPINION: This was a coming-of-age performance for the All Blacks and a redemption night.
Gregor Paul: All Blacks machine has stormed back to life
OPINION: This was closer in nature to the performance the country has been waiting for.
Gregor Paul: Making sense of TJ Perenara's selection
OPINION: If the All Blacks want to play fast, they chose the wrong halfback.
Gregor Paul: The concerning precedent set in McKenzie bus debacle
OPINION: Any suggestion the All Blacks have had a no “dickheads” policy is a fallacy.
Gregor Paul: The All Blacks' attack lacks punch – is Sotutu the answer?
OPINION: Overall star power is missing, notably in the forwards.
Gregor Paul: Questioning Perenara's role as higher-tempo attack needed
Pressure mounts to find solutions as the All Blacks face the Pumas.
Gregor Paul: The growing concern evidenced in All Blacks humbling
OPINION: There has been little evidence of lessons being learned week to week.
Gregor Paul: The most galling ABs stat that must be rectified
OPINION: How this hoodoo has developed is impossible to say.
Gregor Paul: Robertson reveals how long ABs have to impress with Ioane axing
OPINION: A timeframe has been established with Reiko Ioane's axing.
Gregor Paul: How Will Jordan's return complicates Beauden Barrett's role
OPINION: Beauden Barrett's age-defying form challenges the All Blacks' strategy.
Secret bidding war: How the All Blacks ditched Nike for Adidas – twice
The inside story of how a $50 million rugby apparel deal was won.
Gregor Paul: Axing Christie shows Robertson's intent at building All Blacks halfback stocks
OPINION: New Zealand's stocks in the No 9 jersey are brimming with quality.
Gregor Paul: All Blacks element that must be perfected to beat Boks
OPINION: The All Blacks can take note of Sir Steve Hansen's 2015 side.
Gregor Paul: Why All Blacks can't afford to move Will Jordan to fullback
OPINION: There are specific personnel changes that seem necessary for the All Blacks.
The youngsters who Razor should retain
Opinion: A few All Blacks debutants raised their hand high to coach Scott Robertson.
Gregor Paul: The most impressive aspect of All Blacks romp
Opinion: The All Blacks showed a part of their game that they can build everything around.
Gregor Paul: NFL approach better investment for NZR than San Diego
OPINION: If this sounds fanciful, it shouldn’t because it’s already just about happening.
Gregor Paul: Proctor's All Blacks debut the wake-up call Rieko Ioane needs
OPINION: Ioane's position as first-choice All Blacks centre has largely been unchallenged.
Gregor Paul: Chasing the US dollar spells bad news for Kiwi All Blacks fans
OPINION: NZ Rugby's maximising commercial opportunities will hurt its core fanbase.
The trap All Blacks must avoid after nervy start to Robertson era – Gregor Paul
The class of 2024 have so far been made to work for their two wins in two tests.
'Nothing special': Humble Barrett plays down game-breaking display against England
For the second week in a row, the 33-year-old impressed off the bench.