The Springboks were robbed all right, no doubt about it, and rugby needs to get a few heads together to sort out the mess which enveloped Eden Park.

The All Blacks' remarkable record at Eden Park will fall on Saturday. There, got that out, and now for the theories.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.

Maybe the public likes its sport dished up with large spoonfuls of reverence but rugby would be more interesting if it stopped taking itself so seriously, writes Chris Rattue.

This one isn't so much David v Goliath, but Cain v Abel. Coutts is Barker's tormentor. He's our hero turned tormentor, writes Chris Rattue.

the Wallabies can play better. They have been so bad as to make the All Blacks look better than they probably are, writes Chris Rattue.

Having watched Richie McCaw motoring around in the Sydney test I'm predicting he might make the 2019 World Cup, writes Chris Rattue.

Benji Marshall was a footballing genius, but not any more. He's been a player on the slide throughout the NRL season, writes Chris Rattue.

Has there ever been such a controversial Auckland lock as Ali Williams? And has the city's place as the home of the great locks in world rugby come to an end?

That settles that, then. Robbie Deans will leave the Wallabies with a big F for failure stamped on his record, writes Chris Rattue. "His selections have been amazingly inconsistent."

The Lions have got more than a test series to win on Saturday night, writes Chris Rattue. They need to discover a spirit for the game and restore some excitement and honour.

There's something invigorating about Blues coach Sir John Kirwan's bid to lure the league magician Benji Marshall to Auckland.

Richie McCaw - your country still needs you, writes Chris Rattue. I've long believed that the great one has covered up fairly serious deficiencies in New Zealand rugby and the series against France has done nothing to dispel the theory.

The new soccer deal making every match in the English Premier League available online - live and on demand - is an absolute winner in my book, writes Chris Rattue.

Chris Rattue writes, "Taranaki could turn into a byword for a rugby disaster. A 40 or 50-point job is in the offing."

Time to take control of your team, Sir John Kirwan, and the Blues boss can start by bringing his errant mentor and captain into line.

Many people asked why Williams was even picked for the All Blacks' wider training-group camp in Mt Maunganui, writes Chris Rattue. The general rugby public was genuinely mystified.

The Warriors' pathetic capitulation against Penrith was one of those disasters that every sports club hopes never happens. Keen observers with an ear to the ground were hardly surprised though.

The Warriors' record loss to the Panthers was the most embarrassing performance by a New Zealand team since our America's Cup boat almost sank, writes Chris Rattue.

It's official. The New Zealand Rugby Union lacks imagination and soul.

Australian rugby is the winner so far this year, even if it doesn't go on to win the Super 15 title.

Jason Collins, an NBA basketball player, didn't only come out as gay. He also confirmed that he was black.

Hopefully New Zealand loses the Super 15 title this season - a likely scenario - and misses out the next year, and the year after that, writes Chris Rattue.

"Are we looking at smoke signals or a smoke screen when it comes to Matt Elliott and the Warriors?" asks Chris Rattue.

Ground spectators might be turned off by video refereeing, but the biggest audience - in living rooms - is turned on by it, writes Chris Rattue.

At the heart of what is among the most inept run of performances in NZ rugby is Andrew Hore, rugby's thug of the year in 2012, writes Chris Rattue.

Steve Williams should get back with Tiger Woods, writes Chris Rattue. Okay, I know it ain't going to happen, but this is a wish list.