Northern | US

News

Fixtures & Results

Fixtures & Results

Hilux NPC

Taranaki Bulls

Taranaki Bulls

Thu Sep 3

12:10am

Auckland

Auckland

Pro D2

Colomiers

Colomiers

Thu Sep 3

12:00pm

Provence Rugby

Provence Rugby

Hilux NPC

Hawkes Bay

Hawkes Bay

Fri Sep 4

12:10am

Otago

Otago

Currie Cup

Kavaliers

Kavaliers

17 - 48

Griquas

Griquas

Hilux NPC

Northland

Northland

20 - 10

Tasman Mako

Tasman Mako

Hilux NPC

Wellington

Wellington

35 - 46

Counties Manukau

Counties Manukau

Reds winger Tim Ryan stars as Brothers make Hospital Cup history

Wallabies extend winning run under Les Kiss with gritty effort

Women's Rugby

Women's Internationals

Japan Women

Japan Women

Fri Sep 4

1:00am

Fiji Women

Fiji Women

Women's Internationals

New Zealand Women

New Zealand Women

66 - 19

Australia Women

Australia Women

Women's Internationals

Fiji Women

Fiji Women

22 - 29

South Africa Women

South Africa Women

Women's Internationals

Fiji Women

Fiji Women

12 - 55

South Africa Women

South Africa Women

John Mitchell includes exciting wing in latest Red Roses squad update

Springbok Women name 32-player squad for'unreal' Black Ferns match-up

21 - 36

FT

36 - 5

FT

38 - 26

FT

21 - 31

FT

57 - 19

FT

57 - 33

FT

21 - 25

FT

44 - 10

FT

19 - 22

FT

36 - 12

FT

53 - 22

FT

23 - 21

FT

40 - 26

FT

43 - 38

FT

43 - 40

FT

52 - 26

FT

33 - 26

FT

21 - 27

FT

35 - 46

FT

20 - 10

FT

17 - 48

FT

Thursday

00:10

Thursday

12:00

Super Rugby Pacific

Sonny Bill Williams hints at post 2019 future

Published: 5 February 2019 04:57 PST

Blues star Sonny Bill Williams. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand international Sonny Bill Williams has suggested this season could be his last with the Blues in Super Rugby.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 33-year-old’s deal runs out after the Rugby World Cup and it has previously been rumoured he could return to rugby league or take up a coaching role.

And the two-time Rugby World Cup winner, who has also had seven professional fights in boxing, is undecided on his Blues future beyond the 2019 Super Rugby.

When asked by the New Zealand Herald if this campaign will be his last with the Blues, he answered: “It could be, bro, it could be.

“If I did finish at the end of the year, as long as I competed every day and put my best foot forward as a person and a player, I’ll be happy.”

Continue reading below…

Williams has endured several injury issues over the past couple of years, but he hopes the worst is behind him ahead of a World Cup year.

“For the last two years I’ve been so methodical with my planning and preparation,” he said. “Every off-season: ‘A, B, C, D and I’m going to get to E’.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It starts here with the Blues. I want us to have a successful year. I want the boys to succeed.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Comments

0 Comments

Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free

Latest Long Reads

LONG READ

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

The world champions maintain a vice-like grip on the set-piece, but New Zealand are hurting them in different ways as the Greatest Rivalry series hots up.

36

LONG READ

Pouri Rakete-Stones: Newcastle's Maori strongman with Red Bull flair and England ambitions

The former Hurricane is English-qualified, and eager to make a splash as Red Bull's fascinating overhaul of Newcastle takes shape.

1

LONG READ

How the All Blacks leadership group thrived in the Johannesburg cauldron

The maturity and resolve shown by Dave Rennie's team at Ellis Park bodes well for the Rugby World Cup crusade next year

8

Comments on RugbyPass

P

PMcD 10 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

Problems, problems for GRT . . . . But if you think of Scott Barrett, possibly Retallick (from the bench), Frizzell & Sititi coming back into the matchday 23 . . . . They bring a different dimension to this issue.

36 Go to comments

R

Rodney Ford 11 minutes ago

What Rassie’s risky business says about the Springboks

Trolling is a fine art and you haven’t mastered it, 🤡

40 Go to comments

P

PMcD 13 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

The SB’s are winning the game through their physical forward carries and controlling the ball.

I think Lakai would be a better option to start the game at 7 and I think I would probably have Jacobson & Sititi on the bench as the toll of these games will start to become obvious and the forwards will need more help with each remaining game (rotation & mins).

...

36 Go to comments

U

Utiku Old Boy 21 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

Agree that a personnel change up for the ABs offers prospect of reward for T3. The bench front row has matched or bettered both SB FRs in the two games and rotating to get Blackadder and Lakai more involved along with Darry or Paddy could help get parity at set piece and break down. It has been surprising that when backs are against the wall, the SBs rely on older, established players and the old game plan. For me, the up-side for the ABs is more obvious - even if this series mainly serves squad development rather than an outright series win. The Rassie reaction to verbal sparring seems to indicate Rennie is under his skin - which is also a surprise. The RGR concept is living up to its billing and nothing is guaranteed to either team!

36 Go to comments

P

PMcD 25 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

“I still believe there is something incredibly special about this South African team”

I think it’s called the defence. They raise their intensity and workrate at the key moments and it’s the superpower that holds them on the right side of the result.

...

36 Go to comments

P

PMcD 29 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

This style of rugby has won Rassie 2 x RWC’s and right now it’s probably his best chance of winning GRT through the forwards.

I thought Sia’s impact was telling (his pace and acceleration were very good), which made me start to wonder if the bench neutrality is the lack of Snyman & Kwagga, who bring a lot of creativity, energy and impact off the bench and if they are the key difference at the moment.

...

36 Go to comments

H

HS 30 minutes ago

Why Peter Lakai could be the All Blacks' ace up the sleeve for the third Test

Biggest question is whether the Georgian ref will allow NZ to clean from the side of the breakdown as much as Gardner did.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IAwz5M63_OE

...

13 Go to comments

R

RugCs 34 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

I’m glad to see the back of Gardner, who I thought was a decent referee, but now consider him as poor as the biased Berry. He spent most of the time coaching and not actually refereeing and it was down to him that the match was SA stop start affair. When it comes to coaching take note that the French also complained bitterly about Berry doing the exact same this earlier this year - coaching which is a SRP sickness.

How is it that Gardner let NZ get away with their upright tackles and direct head-shots with shoulders and elbow’s is a mystery to me, or is it bias? WR should look into this and I am sure that some of the videos to be sent will focus on the NZ dangerous tackles. With Nika Amashukeli in charge of the third match I will expect him to look at the dangerous tackles and protect players.

...

36 Go to comments

u

unknown 34 minutes ago

‘Argentina Tests unquestionably winnable, but things can also go south quickly for Australia’

Hernández was the best decision Loffreda made at rwc 2007. I wish he could have played at rwc 2011 but he was injured. He should have been the fly half starter in his last years of his career, but Hourcade put him as 12 in a position he invented as 12 libero. Sanchez was good and consistent fly half, but Hernandez was more complete making fantasy plays from nowhere with his hands and feet. I think Sanchez coulf have been a good 12 because of his defence.

18 Go to comments

P

PMcD 35 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

I think it’s what we thought going into this series, the AB’s have improved dramatically under Rennie & Co but these games came a little too early. The AB’s are still finalising their squad and when players like Williams, Scott Barrett, Retalick, Frizzell, Sititi, Faingaʻanuku return, the forward pack will be stronger, as will the matchday 23 and it feels like they will be in a much better shape heading into RWC 2027.

I suspect we will see a similar game to this week in test 3, where the Boks play to their strengths knowing how they can control the game.

...

36 Go to comments

H

HS 41 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

I know that Rassie said that. Victor Matfield disagreed, and for what it's worth, so did I.

If you look at the clip that the All Blacks posted themselves, I think that they must have been really surprised that they got that penalty.

...

36 Go to comments

N

NB 42 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

Tony B has been side-lined, so the question arises whether his developments will ever be trusted in a really big game. No evidence to say that it will since Wellington.

36 Go to comments

G

GO 43 minutes ago

'I'm not going to moan my arse off': Erasmus fires back at Rennie's accusation

Rassie is always moaning and manipulating things.

143 Go to comments

u

unknown 44 minutes ago

ProD2 season 2026-27 preview: Club-by-club guide as French second tier kicks off

Somebody knows where Tomás Lezana will play?

1 Go to comments

N

NB 46 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/on-a-beggars-ration-new-zealand-gave-rassie-erasmus-springboks-a-dig-in-the-ribs/

Rassie himself said the pen was right to go against Steenekamp. He ended up pulling not pushing.

...

36 Go to comments

N

NB 48 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

37 minutes, with over 100 rucks for the ABs - though they were never ahead on the game. Only 13 total pens!

The Boks looked pretty settled in selection barring injury, but the ABs may have to take some risks in that respect to get over the line - for example Saula Ma’u at THP, and Lakai at 6 or 7. Maybe even Lakai-Ardie-Sititi in the back row.

...

36 Go to comments

u

unknown 49 minutes ago

Facial injury denies Matías Moroni chance to join Argentina greats

It doesnt matter if he didnt reach the 100 caps next saturday. He will do it eventually. There are not so many options at 13 for the world cup.

1 Go to comments

N

NoLongerARuck 51 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

The big question for me is that Rassie has acknowledge especially after the 23 victory that the Boks needed to evolve. We thought we were seeing that evolution but when it gets really tight the evolution gets shelved and the famous Bok depth seems to be somewhat artificial with a core of key players seemingly only entrusted with the big assignment. With World Rugby looking to create a more fluid game will the Bok approach continue to remain as relevant as it was previously or will the Springboks be left behind due to their skill deficiencies and low attack IQ? Tony Brown was brought in to enhance that IQ and as you mentioned SA based coaches like Tsimba are capable of coaching it too so is Rassie being Shortsighted in not letting the game develop further?

36 Go to comments

H

HS 56 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

https://youtube.com/shorts/JQsF75Gkg34?is=Xp_NQU2SRtKH5D0Q

This is the All Blacks own YouTube.

...

36 Go to comments

N

NoLongerARuck 58 minutes ago

'The All Blacks are asking South Africa all the questions that matter'

Nick I would be curious to know what the Ball in play time for this match was? It seems like NZ got a much more favourable set of stats in this game compared to the beggars ration they got before. They built 100 plus rucks, they broke the line multiple times and their scrum was more solid. They also won the territory and possession battle but they still lost. The Boks made massive improvements though winning 6 turnovers and reducing the turnovers won by NZ from 14 to an unbeleivable 2. Was that down to Angus Gardener? Cant imagine Amashukeli will deny the contest as much as Gardener did but the Springboks did really well to stay connected to support when they did carry and didnt look to pass a whole lot preferring to attack the seams. Springbok defence was also imacculate with just 5 pens given away. They also won so many contestables with them kicking super accurately. NZ sprayed over 200 passes and for 4 tries only. It wasnt the best return and the rush worked well when you consider the disparity in post contact metres. Their scrum became more reliable but their lineout was a messy affair. Its fair too say if NZ can gain parity at set piece and sort out the contestable they give themselves a great chance at winning. The Springboks though need to find a bench balance that will see them return to green in the final quarter where they have been resoundingly thumped in the first 2 matches. One feels for them to win they need to build a lead, win loads of pens and cash in on 22m entries. I reckon NZ have more ways to win the match, the Springboks though are the best at forcing outcomes so even that may not be enough.

36 Go to comments

Search