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Bunnings NPCBay of PlentyCanterburyWellington

Mitre10 Cup Championship tougher than Premiership


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Here’s why Scotty Stevenson thinks the Mitre 10 Cup Championship is tougher than the Premiership.

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Comments on RugbyPass

F
Francisco Roldan 10 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

Adapt or die is part of the natural evolution of life and, why not, of the game as well. Playing "with the referees" is simply a manifestation of that evolution. I agree with you that rugby has increasingly shifted towards its profile as a sporting spectacle, where the scrum has become a survival platform whose objective has become obtaining penalties, maintaining possession, and entering the 22-meter line in express mode. However, one of the things that most caught my attention during Super Rugby Americas 2026 (which professionally involves four Argentine franchises) was that, while the pace of the game continues to accelerate, technical skills don't always seem to keep up. It appears that the increased speed of ball movement coexists with an increase in unforced errors, turnovers, and difficulties in sustaining long sequences of play. It's as if the physical and tactical evolution is demanding more than technical execution can consistently provide. The game is accelerating. The real question is whether our skills are keeping pace. Greetings everyone, Nick!

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NB 22 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

It does look pretty silly P.

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M
Mzilikazi 24 minutes ago
The ‘big impact’ Will Skelton had on giant Brumbies recruit’s career

Time will tell, JW. Not sure what a CC team is ?

10 Go to comments
N
NB 26 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

Sensible outcome and refs are already beginning to do it P.

504 Go to comments
N
NB 26 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

More deep dive coming later this week NLR!

504 Go to comments
N
NB 27 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

Dingo Dave seems to have a taste for Bok meat doesn’t he?😁

504 Go to comments
N
NB 27 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

In theory yes Mitch. But if ABs don’t disntegrate like Ireland did in one key area he could be free to find his wings like Pearce or Dickson!

504 Go to comments
N
NB 28 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

Hi Fran hope all is well and good comment as always…

I have a sense evolution in the game is moving pretty fast right now, helped by the reffing!



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N
NB 30 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

A bit facile CF. But you could right that the ABs had the stronger opponents in the NC?

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M
Mark 30 minutes ago
'We’ve brought in big men who like to bang': Alex Sanderson

If rhetoric was worth 5pts a word.

Sale are already champions!!



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N
NB 31 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

The scrum will undoubtedly be a vital factor - see next article!

The ABs matched the Boks in that area in 2024 with a fit Lomax, but didn’t in 2025 without him.



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E
EvilMockingJay 38 minutes ago
Two Englishmen on referee panel for Greatest Rivalry Series

Well, I asked for a SH fan that know basic decency and respect. It seems it’s not you.

32 Go to comments
P
PMcD 42 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

If the scrum goes down, just award the free kick and let the 9’s move the ball straight away - that would quickly change the mindset of all these scrums going down and the ref having to guess what’s happening, whilst stopping all the lost time on resets.

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JD Kiwi 43 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

He seems to have left his first choice backs at home (unless they're coming back from injury) to work with Brown so I wouldn't read too much into this team.

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PMcD 44 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

The scrum is a restart to the team with possession, if they simply gave a free kick after the first collapse (with all the forwards on the ground) to the team with the ball . . . . I am adamant you would quickly see a reduction in the resets and this problem would suddenly be resolved naturally.

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j
johnz 45 minutes ago
All Blacks tour of South Africa is a fact-finding mission for next year

Going from undisputed 1st in the World for a decade, to disputed 2nd, 3rd or 4th is a decline. Sure, it’s not a collapse aka Wales style - but a decline it is.

There have been some incredibly low points during the “decline” period, which matter more than rankings, in any case.



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P
PMcD 46 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

Watch the IRE vs SA game and then come back and say the same thing. 🤣🤣

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PMcD 47 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

If you look at many of the criticism’s from that period, the AB’s have made significant progress over the last few games.

I though ENG were ahead of the AB’s going into that match, so the result wasn’t a surprise . . . . But we went backwards since then and the AB’s have gone forwards and you are a much better team as a result than you were last Auturmn - that’s pretty much what Nick was saying at the time.



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PMcD 53 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

The things you eat during close games HH. 🤣🤣🤣

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P
PMcD 53 minutes ago
The data shows Dave Rennie's All Blacks can test the all-conquering Springboks to the max

A very good question that only Rassie will know.

Does he persist controlling games with his forwards that he knows plays to their advantage and will likely result in a W, or does he let rip with a more attacking style as they did in Wellington and inflict maximum damage on the AB’s at this stage of their development.



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504 Go to comments
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