Opinion
International Rugby
The constant in the All Blacks’ struggles is not the coaches
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Contributors
Hamish Bidwell
@HamishBidwell
Hamish has been an opinion and sports writer for over 20 years in New Zealand, featuring on RNZ, New Zealand Herald, Stuff.co.nz, and RugbyPass.
276 Articles
Latest
International Rugby
It'll take a brave individual to coach these All Blacks
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Jason Holland's All Blacks exit remains a head-scratcher
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Robertson is not supposed to be doing the coaching
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60 days ago
Opinion
The All Blacks were clearly the better team in Chicago with a proper bench
Better still, there was impact off the bench. Wallace Sititi, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Tamaiti Williams all impressed, while J…
Hamish Bidwell
04 Nov 2025, 19:28
22
Opinion
What is the point in Jason Holland sticking around with the All Blacks
Holland loves the game, thinks deeply about it and, again, is just a thoroughly decent fellow. He just shouldn’t be in Chicago w…
Hamish Bidwell
30 Oct 2025, 14:11
29
Opinion
Wayne Smith and Tony Brown revealed where they believe the All Blacks are
Neither roundly endorsed the tactics and selections of All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. Rather, they hinted at there being room f…
Hamish Bidwell
21 Oct 2025, 20:37
32
Opinion
There is no reason why All Blacks can't go unbeaten on tour
The All Blacks were largely outstanding in beating both England and Ireland and lost no admirers in their 30-29 defeat to France.Â…
Hamish Bidwell
14 Oct 2025, 17:50
22
Opinion
Flavour of the month selections for the All Blacks are not viable long-term
Only a handful of established All Blacks have maintained or improved on their previous standards since Scott Robertson and company…
Hamish Bidwell
07 Oct 2025, 15:43
178
Opinion
Like it or not, the All Blacks look better without Scott Barrett as captain
For all the reverence with which Robertson spoke about the injured skipper on Thursday, I sincerely doubt most fans hold Barrett i…
Hamish Bidwell
25 Sep 2025, 16:40
54
Opinion
The biggest threat to the All Blacks is the All Blacks
We’ve become so accustomed to All Blacks replacements causing performances to deteriorate, that it’s hard not to assume that 
Hamish Bidwell
16 Sep 2025, 18:31
50
Opinion
Eden Park was great but the Springboks will win by 15 now
The Springbok team that played at Eden Park was too old. I think they played a style of rugby unsuited to the conditions and I tho…
Hamish Bidwell
09 Sep 2025, 17:33
178
Opinion
We’ve seen good players get worse within the All Blacks
At some stage the actual All Blacks coaches and players have to take responsibility for their circumstances and find a way to impr…
Hamish Bidwell
04 Sep 2025, 23:12
82
Opinion
The All Blacks used to be about the never-ending pursuit of perfection
While I firmly believe the All Blacks will rouse themselves for the occasion on September 6, I still harbour grave doubts about th…
Hamish Bidwell
26 Aug 2025, 20:44
21
Opinion
The rolling maul is the antidote for the All Blacks in this era
The All Blacks struggled to build phases against the Pumas in Cordoba. There were a variety of reasons for that, including that th…
Hamish Bidwell
20 Aug 2025, 18:44
16
Opinion
Scott Robertson is flirting with too much of a good thing
I see the logic in what All Blacks coach Scott Robertson is trying to do. Depth helps. Just ask Rassie Erasmus.
Hamish Bidwell
15 Aug 2025, 23:52
10
Opinion
New Zealand just needs to look at the NPC to change eligibility laws
When I see Rugby Australia suggesting they’ll go the way of SA Rugby and happily pick players from overseas, I can’t help feel…
Hamish Bidwell
06 Aug 2025, 15:38
35
Opinion
There remains a culture of excuses in Australian rugby
I don’t think they’re learning at all in Australia, just as we didn’t back in 2000. If you’re up 23-5, as the Wallabies we…
Hamish Bidwell
30 Jul 2025, 18:20
10
Opinion
New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention
Barrett, the All Blacks captain, has been injured. And while his calf’s been recuperating, Fabian Holland and Patrick Tuipulotu …
Hamish Bidwell
23 Jul 2025, 19:37
103
Opinion
Scott Robertson's disappointing Ruben Love decision
I have to express some disappointment about Ruben Love not getting a run at first five-eighth, for the All Blacks on Saturday.
Hamish Bidwell
17 Jul 2025, 23:40
61
Opinion
All Blacks will thrash France on Saturday
There’s a couple of reasons why I believe Saturday’s second match in this three-test series won’t be a contest.
Hamish Bidwell
08 Jul 2025, 21:23
77
Opinion
What the first All Blacks team of 2025 says about Robertson's plans
Among the more consistent criticisms of his first year as All Blacks coach, was that it scarcely differed from what had come befor…
Hamish Bidwell
02 Jul 2025, 21:28
20
Opinion
Scott Robertson's loose forwards selections don't add up
So said All Blacks coach Scott Robertson on Monday, in trying to explain the omission of Ethan Blackadder from the 35-man squad to…
Hamish Bidwell
25 Jun 2025, 15:16
110
Opinion
The Chiefs are better than the Crusaders
The Chiefs have been the best team in Super Rugby for some time now. They’ve certainly been far and away the form side of 2025.
Hamish Bidwell
17 Jun 2025, 19:55
51
