Tag Archives: All Blacks

Coach Blackadder

Coach Blackadder

Former All Black captain, Todd Blackadder, takes his first step into international coaching with the announcement that he will be joining the Scotland Under 21 set-up.  

Irish Rugby Miracle

Irish Rugby Miracle

Alone it Stands, a heart-warming and hilarious re-enactment of Irish club side Munsters’ defeat of the All Blacks in 1978, plays to its 100,000th person. “Beating the All Blacks is the ultimate dream of anyone who…

NZ Rugby Back at #1

NZ Rugby Back at #1

You might not know it from the reaction of local fans, but the All Blacks are No.1, at least according to French Centre Thomas Castaignede in the Guardian. “They have the perfect mix.” With England No.2 the Aussies…

Windows XPerience

Windows XPerience

All Black Doug Howlett buys the world’s first copy of Windows XP… for his mum.  

Wgtn Saatchis in world top-10

Wgtn Saatchis in world top-10

In a volume compiled by editors of graphic design bible Graphis Saatchi & Saatchi’s Wellington office, originator of the award winning Toyota bugger and Adidas All Black haka campaigns (left), makes the world top-10…

This Glorious Tradition

This Glorious Tradition

Respect: The Sydney Morning Herald offers solace to the demanding expectations of AB fans and puts a recently balanced ledger in the context of the history and aura of the All Black tradition: “Now you know…

Black Bet

Black Bet

Kiwi caddie Steve Williams bets on the All Blacks to win for a tenner.

Times Past

Times Past

It was fourteen years ago today that Captain Kirk got the boys to play, winning the inaugural Rugby World Cup at Eden Park.

Music to His Ears

Music to His Ears

Jonah is a big man – and he’s got a car stereo to match.

Pinetree Speaks

Pinetree Speaks

Colin Meads on touch judges: “Boy do they give you a gut ache. Last year when there was a bit of a fight in a test match a touch judge ran on the field to break it…

Doubtful Honour

Doubtful Honour

Big Norm Hewitt’s in-yer-face  rendition of the All Black haka and English hooker Richard ‘Cocky’ Cockerill’s gracious eyeball-to-eyeball acceptance makes the Guardian’s list of the “top-ten sporting feuds”.

World’s Greatest Sports Brand?

World’s Greatest Sports Brand?

Brandchannel reviews “one of the most distinctive international brands in the history of sport.” “The All Blacks are a team not a brand” insist the NZRFU. “The team’s values are absolutely about winning, whereas the brand’s values…

Brooke on Board

Brooke on Board

Former AB Zinzan Brooke shucks his rugby jersey and climbs aboard the Team Veritas yacht for a leg of the BT Global Challenge.

Hakaed Out?

Hakaed Out?

Has over-exposure taken the edge off the AB’s haka?

Kingsley Link

Kingsley Link

Phil Kingsley-Jones manages Jonah – his son, Kingsley Jones, has been likened to All Black Josh Kronfeld.  

Awards of Merit

Awards of Merit

Controversial clergyman and academic Lloyd Geering carried off the highest honour in the New Years’ list, Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Colin “Pinetree” Meads, All Black 1957-71 and all-time greatest AB, is one…

Goldie Rides Again

Goldie Rides Again

The prodigiously talented Jeff Wilson – in this age of professionalism, perhaps the last person to be an AB and a Black Cap – has returned to rugby after a year’s refresher. “I’m sure he will…

Well-ing-ton!

Well-ing-ton!

Wellington took out the NPC, beating a Canterbury side that fielded 12 AB’s in the starting line up. International stars did their bit for the Lions, with Lomu scoring twice and Cullen setting up for Inoki…

Rugby: Brits Gush About All Blacks

Rugby: Brits Gush About All Blacks

“To watch the sheer brilliance of New Zealand’s opening passage of play against the Wallabies, and then to have that followed by the marvellous fightback which took Australia to level pegging—and for that quality to be sustained…

As Good as It Gets? Back in Black!

As Good as It Gets? Back in Black!

“The jagged edge is back to New Zealand’s game, the legal violence of execution beneath the blades of the All Black harvester,” writes the Sydney Morning Herald. We couldn’t have said it better. Shell-shocked Aussie captain John…

“Absence of Cutting Edge” Proves Scots Undoing

“Absence of Cutting Edge” Proves Scots Undoing

The All Blacks proved the theory and continued with breathtaking conviction to erase uncomfortable memories when they trounced Scotland 48-14. As Andy Nicol, the Scotland captain remarked later, “that is as ruthless a team as I…

All Black’s Blunt Edge in 95 World Cup Final Attributed to Poisoning

All Black’s Blunt Edge in 95 World Cup Final Attributed to Poisoning

A former major in the South African Police has backed up claims that the All Black team was poisoned on the eve of the 1995 World Cup final, “I only have the evidence of my eyes but…

Coach Bracewell Has Opponents in a Spin with the All Black Way

Coach Bracewell Has Opponents in a Spin with the All Black Way

Former New Zealand spinner John Bracewell, now in a coaching role, has turned the fortunes of underachieving Gloucestershire a full circle through preaching ‘the All Black way’. They are looking to complete a hatrick of one…

New Zealand No.8 Legend Farewelled

New Zealand No.8 Legend Farewelled

He changed the rugby ball in the same crazy way that Kiwi farmers altered fencing wire. “The career of Zinzan Brooke, a singular player in a uniform age, ended at Twickenham yesterday amid a sea of points…