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Watch: Kiwis carving up the north - international edition

By Campbell Burnes
Bundee Aki

Kiwis are making their presence felt in November via several international teams in the north, and not just the All Blacks and Maori All Blacks.

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The first to catch the eye in the international window is Ireland’s debutant midfielder Bundee Aki. The 27-year-old former Chiefs and Steelers midfielder made a telling first play at this level, and he didn’t even have the ball. He put a heavy right shoulder into the midriff of Springboks bookend Coenie Oosthuizen, driving the big prop backwards and twisting his knee. Oosthuizen had to leave the field, setting the tone for Ireland’s emphatic 38-3 victory. Aki went on to make 15 solid tackles, second only to CJ Stander on the night in Dublin.

Samoa was edged 44-38 by Scotland, but Tim Nanai-Williams, operating at first five, helped himself to 18 points, 13 off the tee and waltzing over for a simple try. North Harbour loose forward Josh Tyrell, who was in the second row with former Harbour skipper Chris Vui, scored on debut. Bay of Plenty prop Jordan Lay was also on debut for the visitors.

Italy, with Kiwis Jayden Hayward – the former Hurricanes and Taranaki midfielder – and Dean Budd – the former Blues lock – in the mix, defeated Fiji 19-10. The latter included Harbour No 10 Ben Volavola, who slotted two goals, while former Chiefs threequarter Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Steelers lock Sikeli Nabou, played. Northland prop Ropate Rinakama debuted, at 29, for the Flying Fijians.

England’s 21-8 win over Argentina was uninspiring, but former Auckland No 8 Nathan Hughes did cross for a fine try, while Rotorua-born Dylan Hartley was at rake.

The UK Barbarians’ 27-24 win over Tonga featured a veritable plethora of New Zealanders or those with Kiwi connections.

George Bridge and Andy Ellis (off a driving maul!) scored tries for the Baabaas, and their teammates included Vince Aso, Richard Buckman, and former All Blacks Sevens and Auckland flyer David Smith.

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Two of Tonga’s tries went to former Auckland wing Afa Pakalani and current Steelers loose forward Fotu Lokotui, while the squad featured a host of New Zealand origin players such as Nafi Tuitavake, Tevita Taufui, Kali Hala, Tane Takalua, Daniel Faleafa, Maama Vaipulu, Latu Talakai and Halani Aulika.

While the three big European competitions were on a break over the weekend due to the internationals, the second round of the Anglo-Welsh Cup was in full swing.

Former North Harbour wing Ken Pisi scored a 60m intercept try for Northampton in the Saints’ 41-7 shellacking of the Dragons. Lock Michael Paterson, the man who was on the verge of the All Blacks in 2010, started in the second-row, while Teimana Harrison entered the fray off the bench.

Willi Heinz and Jeremy Thrush both crossed for tries, the latter securing the bonus point, in Gloucester’s 47-7 dismantling of London Irish. Also featuring for the West Country club were props John Afoa and Josh Hohneck.

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Former Hawke’s Bay and Toulon wing Sinoti Sinoti scored a brace as Newcastle crushed a weakened Cardiff Blues 57-0, while bruising former Wellington and North Harbour No 8 Mat Luamanu crossed for a try in Harlequins’ 45-37 win over Worcester Warriors.

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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