
Wynne Gray: Benji's box office draw
Early fascination about the Blues' second season under John Kirwan's command will be the ideas about Charles Piutau and Benji Marshall, writes Wynne Gray.
Early fascination about the Blues' second season under John Kirwan's command will be the ideas about Charles Piutau and Benji Marshall, writes Wynne Gray.
This season he has been so influential in the All Blacks that you believe his presence is more crucial to the team cause than Richie McCaw.
After an unbeaten season with 14 victories secured during the most suspenseful final 84 seconds of their itinerary, the All Blacks have earned their break, writes Wynne Gray.
Only those All Blacks who saved their season in Dublin understand the spirit of that survival, writes Wynne Gray.
The All Black team to play Ireland highlights two major elements - how settled they are with their squad and how much depth they have developed.
It's been hard on this tour to know where AIG ends and the All Blacks begin.
The beauty of the sport of rugby is that with every new season you can detect subtle changes in the comparative importance of positions.
Tracey Nelson crunches the numbers from the All Blacks' 30-22 win over England at Twickenham where lock Sam Whitelock stood out in his 50th test.
Ditch the talk about justice for the All Blacks, enterprise against intimidation or revenge for last year's stumble at Twickenham, writes Wynne Gray.
Margins between top international sides are not great, especially if there is a shift in mental application.
France were tough, resilient, creative and intensive and yet they might turn out to be a walk in the park compared with playing England.
About coffee and croissant time tomorrow, the All Blacks will meet France for what may be the last time at the Stade de France.
Their scrummaging may have been a little suspect at times, but this All Black pack have improved massively since this time last year.
Peter Fatialofa was a larrikin and a leader, someone who was able to merge those traits in his own delightful way, writes Wynne Gray.
In picking their team to play France, the All Black selectors would have faced three genuinely tough decisions, writes Gregor Paul.
France, forever touted as an All Black nemesis, are nothing of the sort, writes Gregor Paul. Their record against NZ is fairly dire.
Shameful chapters in New Zealand rugby have reduced but the NZRU's inability to unite with Jonah Lomu remains one of their neglectful episodes.