Super Rugby Pacific
10 All Blacks for Crusaders against the Blues in final pre-season clash
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Contributors
Ben Smith
@bensmithrugby
A former financial analyst & auditor in retail banking, Ben is a columnist at RugbyPass specialising in opinion-based analysis, breaking down rugby as he sees it, to uncover what professional teams are trying to do around the world.
1384 Articles
Sam Cane's second-ever red card sinks Sungoliath as Wild Knights remain perfect
Suntory Sungoliath have fallen to Ardie Savea's Kobe Kobelco Steelers as a double yellow card to Sam Cane resulted in the Sungolia…
Ben Smith
10 Jan 2026, 20:01
1
'We should never forget': Former Bok great's warning on looming All Blacks series
Former Springboks fullback Percy Montgomery has warned South Africa about getting too complacent ahead of the historic Greatest Ri…
Ben Smith
06 Jan 2026, 18:54
98
All Blacks in the RugbyPass Top 100: Who rose, fell and missed out
The All Blacks finished with 16 players in the RugbyPass Top 100 for 2025, the second-most of any country behind South Africa.
Ben Smith
16 Dec 2025, 4:15
13
The five players who can swing the Springboks tour in the All Blacks' favour
The good news for Robertson is that there are players who can do that for the All Blacks next year who have been largely absent fr…
Ben Smith
09 Dec 2025, 23:34
45
All Blacks Sevens crash back to earth on day one in Cape Town
The All Blacks Sevens have crashed back down to earth on day one in Cape Town after winning the opening Dubai event of the 2025/26…
Ben Smith
06 Dec 2025, 15:49
Scott Barrett's 2027 plan explains everything about his form
All Blacks captain Scott Barrett endured plenty of speculation in 2025 surrounding his Super Rugby form with the Crusaders.
Ben Smith
03 Dec 2025, 20:27
15
'Felt inevitable': Scott Robertson on All Blacks' Pool A fate
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said it 'felt inevitable' that the All Blacks would end up in same pool as the Wallabies as …
Ben Smith
03 Dec 2025, 20:12
The South African verdict on Bok whisperer assistant coach Tony Brown
Former Springboks flyhalf Naas Botha has credited Tony Brown with bringing "quite a bit to the table" in terms of transforming Sou…
Ben Smith
02 Dec 2025, 22:10
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Opinion
The good, the bad, the ugly with the All Blacks' forwards in 2025
There are some suggestions the All Blacks forward pack went backwards in 2025, unable to match what they had achieved in 2024.
Ben Smith
30 Nov 2025, 0:59
69
'There's no way': Siya Kolisi believes Etzebeth innocent of deliberate intent
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has defended teammate and good friend Eben Etzebeth and claimed that there was no intent behind the …
Ben Smith
29 Nov 2025, 17:58
26
'100 caps… 1 incident': Bok great Bryan Habana condemns Etzebeth's act but defends player
The Springboks finished their 2025 season with a resounding 73-0 win over Wales but a 78th minute incident with Eben Etzebeth over…
Ben Smith
29 Nov 2025, 17:30
137
'In the Carter and Dupont bracket': Ex-All Black No.10 crowns Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Springboks flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been hailed as being in the same class as Dan Carter and Antoine Dupont according…
Ben Smith
26 Nov 2025, 16:37
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'He will keep fighting': What Rassie Erasmus won't tolerate within the Springboks
Former Springboks hooker Schalk Brits has revealed what head coach Rassie Erasmus 'hates' to see within the Springboks environment…
Ben Smith
26 Nov 2025, 16:04
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Opinion
We are at peak 'Bok-flation' in this Rugby World Cup cycle
We are seeing Bok-flation running at record levels now. Six players were selected in the men's 15 World Dream Team of the year. Th…
Ben Smith
26 Nov 2025, 0:05
73
Opinion
The All Blacks now have to knock over South Africa at home to win public over
Next year's tour of South Africa shapes as the World Cup kickstarter after the Rugby Championship drought. To beat the Springboks …
Ben Smith
24 Nov 2025, 22:32
96
Opinion
The golden era for Ireland and France is now over
European rugby has been dealt a re-ordering with both Ireland and France declining from where they were a few years ago.
Ben Smith
23 Nov 2025, 21:17
68
Scott Barrett's reluctant response on improvements as All Blacks captain
Scott Barrett provided a coy response when asked what he "needed to improve on" going into next year as team captain following the…
Ben Smith
23 Nov 2025, 16:16
5
Opinion
Super Rugby Pacific squads: Team grades for very New Zealand club
The Super Rugby Pacific squads have been revealed, with all the teams releasing their lists for the 2026 season.
Ben Smith
06 Nov 2025, 16:18
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Mix of new and returning players headline Hurricanes squad
The Hurricanes have announced their 33-man squad for the 2026 Super Rugby season which includes three new and three returning play…
Ben Smith
05 Nov 2025, 18:59
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'It was a sucker punch': The blow that swung THAT Ireland-All Blacks clash
The 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final between New Zealand and Ireland will go down as one of the most heart-breaking, epic games …
Ben Smith
04 Nov 2025, 12:58
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