Wynne Gray: Hard-working England gaffer has grip on reality and wants to KO stereotypes
Something had to change when Stuart Lancaster took over. England had to shelve the arrogance which surrounded them, writes Wynne Gray.
Something had to change when Stuart Lancaster took over. England had to shelve the arrogance which surrounded them, writes Wynne Gray.
The rise of Simon Hickey from the Blues' wider training group to starting No 10 makes you realise things can change quickly in professional rugby.
The Chiefs have designs of far greater significance than merely winning the match when they meet the Waratahs this afternoon.
Steven Luatua, a standout for the Blues last year but unable to break into the starting line-up this season, is set to miss the All Blacks cut when the final squad is named in Auckland tomorrow.
Back rower Jake Schatz's second try of the night two minutes after the fulltime siren gave Queensland a 38-31 Super Rugby win over the Highlanders after the Reds nearly blew a 21-point halftime lead.
Wayne Smith's defensive wizardry has won the Chiefs a fair few games over the last three seasons.
The New Zealand Rugby Union today confirmed that Crusader Zac Guildford's contract has been terminated.
Ihaia West could be the next roll of the dice for the Blues as they seek a first five-eighths with the attacking instincts to ignite their backline.
Hurricanes lock Jeremy Thrush knows his best chance to remind the All Blacks selectors of what he can do will come on the field.
The competition to wear the No10 jersey for the All Blacks against England next month is wide open after Hurricane Beauden Barrett engineered a demolition of the Chiefs.
The Saturday evening clash between the Highlanders and Crusaders was a perfect showcase of NZ rugby, writes Justin Marshall. It showed the excitement and skill levels of Super Rugby at its best.
Dave Rennie described the Chiefs as "a distant third" in their heavy defeat against the Hurricanes but there was one bright spot amid the gloom.
Apart from their slip-up to the Blues at Eden Park at the start, winning away this season hasn't been an issue for the Crusaders.
Super Rugby's dreaded June hiatus won't be a thing of the past as plans to shift the international window to July have been rejected by the Six Nations.
Ihaia West may have done enough against the Sharks to be handed his first start for the Blues this week when they take on the Hurricanes.
Every nut-job and psycho in the Southern Hemisphere will have rejoiced having seen that Super Rugby values hamstrings more than it does heads.
He was sporting four stitches after the game but referee Glen "Jacko" Jackson's shiner had nothing to do with contentious calls in last night's Super 15 nailbiter.