All the latest from the world of rugby
April 29, 2012
Posted by Huw Baines 3 weeks, 4 days ago
The front-row picture
Richard Loe runs through his picks for the All Blacks' front-row - based on Super Rugby form - in The Herald on Sunday.
"A reasonably clear picture is forming about the potential make-up of the All Black front row.
"Assuming everyone is fit, the four props will presumably be Owen and Ben Franks, Wyatt Crockett and Tony Woodcock. The three Crusaders boys have been strong and consistent and I suspect have still got more to come.
"Coach Todd Blackadder has rotated them and that has worked well - with Woodcock injured, you'd have to say they are the three top props in the country."
February 20, 2012
Posted by Graham Jenkins on 02/20/2012
Pampa'd Pumas on the prowl
Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Michael Burgess looks at the Pumas' production line.
"If the Pumas spring some surprises over the next few years of the Rugby Championship, significant credit should go to Las Pampas.
"No, not the thousands of kilometres of grasslands in inland Argentina, where cattle ranches abound in the agricultural centre of the nation.
"Instead Las Pampas is the semi-professional, home-grown outfit that has played the last two seasons of the Vodacom Cup in South Africa, the second-tier competition to the Currie Cup and which is played for by that country's Super Rugby development teams.
"Last year, they went unbeaten, trumping the Bulls development team in the final in a display of verve and flair. They captured the imagination back home but their impact goes well beyond national pride."
RSS feed
