Opinion
The predictability problem with Super Rugby Pacific
I don’t want to see the Chiefs or Crusaders weakened but, for Super Rugby Pacific to endure, things have to be done to strengthe…
Hamish Bidwell
28 Feb 2024, 14:44
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.
Opinion
Don't be fearful of life without Whitelock, Retallick or Smith
I do have reservations about the depth of some of our Super Rugby Pacific squads, but not in our ability to still find enough capa…
Hamish Bidwell
20 Feb 2024, 21:54
Opinion
Bledisloe Cup rugby is just better during the day time
Australia has hosted three day time Bledisloe Cup clashes in the professional era: in 1995, 1996 and 2021.
Hamish Bidwell
14 Feb 2024, 14:32
Opinion
Please stop throwing good money at the Rebels
Australia has too many Super Rugby franchises, from a high-performance perspective. I doubt many people would lament the passing o…
Hamish Bidwell
30 Jan 2024, 17:34
Opinion
Surely a man of Joe Schmidt’s track record could find something better
Surely a man of Joe Schmidt’s track record, contacts and acumen could find a cushier role than Wallabies coach.
Hamish Bidwell
23 Jan 2024, 20:11
Opinion
Recipe for Champions Cup tastes better than Super Rugby right now
Featuring the best of French, South African and British rugby, the Champions Cup is of a high standard, played in front sizable cr…
Hamish Bidwell
16 Jan 2024, 21:52
Opinion
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson will have frightened his employers already
It’s interesting, on a couple of fronts, to see new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson hold the door ajar to picking players from …
Hamish Bidwell
09 Jan 2024, 23:08
Opinion
Let’s not pretend you have to play in New Zealand to be an All Black
Cane cited South Africa, who successfully cobbles players together from Europe and Japan and churns out Rugby World Cup-winning te…
Hamish Bidwell
03 Dec 2023, 20:34
Opinion
Let's hope that Richie Mo’unga wasn't serious about the All Blacks
Without Richie Mo’unga, the cupboard of competent first five-eighths' back here in New Zealand is pretty bare.
Hamish Bidwell
28 Nov 2023, 15:33
Why new Rugby Australia chair Daniel Herbert needs to be quiet
Don’t air the organisation’s business in public. Don’t hire a national coach capable of going rogue. Don’t go seeking publ…
Hamish Bidwell
21 Nov 2023, 19:45
Opinion
The lessons the All Blacks could learn from the Black Caps
There are two reasons - which the All Blacks could learn from - which mean the New Zealand men’s cricket team invariably get a p…
Hamish Bidwell
15 Nov 2023, 17:44
Opinion
The All Blacks need to rekindle their emotional connection with fans
If there was a journey that Ian Foster was taking the team on during his tenure, it didn’t feel as if he took that many of us wi…
Hamish Bidwell
06 Nov 2023, 21:03
Opinion
Let’s not pretend this is a great All Blacks side who were robbed
Let’s not rewrite history here. Let’s not pretend this is a great side who were robbed of victory, having been expertly prepar…
Hamish Bidwell
30 Oct 2023, 21:08
Opinion
The All Blacks have been pretty ordinary but now will win the World Cup
And yet, in a few days’ time, the All Blacks are likely to be crowned Rugby World Cup champions.
Hamish Bidwell
24 Oct 2023, 22:40
Opinion
The All Blacks did their job as Ireland suffered from their own ineptitude
They had ample opportunities to beat the All Blacks on Sunday and weren’t good enough to take them. At times, that was due to th…
Hamish Bidwell
16 Oct 2023, 23:51
Opinion
Ethan de Groot destroyed France’s tighthead prop Uini Atonio
I thought there were times in that France game when the pressure exerted by de Groot was intolerable for Antonio. At those moments…
Hamish Bidwell
22 Sep 2023, 7:15
Opinion
New Zealand is accepting of the defeat from schoolboy-like All Blacks
I think under coach Ian Foster’s tenure we’ve become accustomed to defeat. We don’t necessarily accept it, but we expect it.
Hamish Bidwell
13 Sep 2023, 11:37
Opinion
If the All Blacks can’t scrummage, they can’t win
The tight five hasn’t been pushed around too often. Teams haven’t had their way with New Zealand at ruck and maul time.
Hamish Bidwell
29 Aug 2023, 19:29
Opinion
Hansen owes no debt to New Zealand rugby and as such should coach elsewhere
Reports are that Hansen informed All Blacks coach Ian Foster before accepting the role, that he isn’t being paid and nor is he g…
Hamish Bidwell
22 Aug 2023, 0:07
Opinion
Sure, Sam Cane’s no Richie McCaw, but who is?
McCaw sits among the all-time greats, while Cane will be remembered as a fine man who did his best. It’s chalk and cheese.
Hamish Bidwell
13 Aug 2023, 22:51
