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Gregor Paul: Springboks' baseless ploy to influence All Blacks clash

20 Sep, 2019 3:00pm
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: Erasmus has no hard facts, just one crass ploy to influence All Blacks clash.

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Gregor Paul: Why this All Blacks lineup is a massive risk

19 Sep, 2019 7:00pm
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: Hansen's huge play could pay off spectacularly, or deliver no reward.

The All Blacks gather for a team talk during a New Zealand training session at Kashiwa no Ha Park Stadium on September 11, 2019 in Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan. Photo / Getty Images.

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Gregor Paul: The great All Blacks con-job that could sink Boks

17 Sep, 2019 3:36pm
5 minutes to read

Comment: The story of the World Cup may be that everyone has misread the All Blacks.

All Blacks pose for a group photo after the team's welcome ceremony of the Rugby World Cup 2019 at Zojoji temple in Tokyo. Photo / AP

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Gregor Paul: Global travellers on top of world

15 Sep, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: Scotland, Ireland and New Zealand will all find a way to enjoy Japan.

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Gregor Paul: The trap All Blacks must avoid at World Cup

13 Sep, 2019 3:30pm
7 minutes to read

COMMENT: The magic number the All Blacks can't lose sight of at the Rugby World Cup.

The Black Ferns celebrate the win during the Rugby Test match between the New Zealand Black Ferns and the Buildcorp Wallaroos at Optus Stadium, August 10 2019. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

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Gregor Paul: The staggering hypocrisy of 'gender neutral' World Cups

10 Sep, 2019 7:41pm
4 minutes to read

Comment: World Rugby's headline-grabbing promise about gender-neutral event is empty.

NZ Rugby CEO Steve Tew and World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont shake hands after New Zealand was announced as the winning bid for Women's Rugby World Cup 2021. Photo / Photosport

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3-star hotels, gender inequality: The truth about 2021 Rugby World Cup

10 Sep, 2019 3:00pm
4 minutes to read

Rugby's drive to create gender equality has hit an ice-berg.

All Black captain Kieran Read and head coach Steve Hansen. Photo / Getty Images

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Gregor Paul: The strategy the All Blacks hope will win the World Cup

7 Sep, 2019 8:00pm
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: Hidden in plain sight against Tonga was the All Blacks' World Cup gameplan.

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Gregor Paul: The decision 'haunting' coaches ahead of World Cup

6 Sep, 2019 3:00pm
7 minutes to read

A big call left plenty of coaches worried the World Cup is going to be needlessly ruined.

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Gregor Paul: How injuries derailed ABs' World Cup plans

5 Sep, 2019 6:30pm
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: Steve Hansen will be a lot more disappointed than he would ever let on.

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Gregor Paul: The loophole that threatens to make mockery of World Cup

4 Sep, 2019 11:00am
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: A Kiwi, two South Africans, a Samoan and an Englishman walk into a bar...

All Blacks midfield back Ngani Laumape in action. Photo / File

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Gregor Paul: 'Unlucky' All Blacks and other footy fallacies

30 Aug, 2019 5:00pm
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: The language around Owen Franks and Ngani Laumape is wrong.

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Gregor Paul: No country for slow men - why the selectors picked these 31 men

29 Aug, 2019 5:00am
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: There has been no compromise in leaving out Franks in the coaches' minds.

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Gregor Paul: The forceful All Black who will fix World Cup weakness

27 Aug, 2019 5:00pm
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: The All Blacks may now have an option they had all but given up on having.

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Gregor Paul: What to do with Sonny Bill Williams

24 Aug, 2019 5:30pm
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: There are compelling arguments that SBW should be on the plane to Japan.

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Gregor Paul: Put down the phone! How ABs can get the real Rieko back

23 Aug, 2019 3:00pm
7 minutes to read

COMMENT: Instagram will not lead Ioane back to promised land, time to ditch the phone.

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Gregor Paul: Kieran Read's selfless act no one noticed

20 Aug, 2019 3:00pm
4 minutes to read

All Blacks captain has been fighting an invisible war since 2008.

All Blacks right wing Sevu Reece celebrates his try against the Wallabies. Photo / Mark Mitchell

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Gregor Paul: Why All Blacks aren't entirely fixed

17 Aug, 2019 9:45pm
4 minutes to read

The All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup, but it was far from a perfect performance.

All Blacks coaching staff, from left, Gilbert Enoka, Steve Hansen, Ian Foster and Scott McLeod arriving for the team training run at Alexandra Park, Auckland. Photo / Mark Mitchell

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Gregor Paul: A wacky week of All Blacks hysteria and silliness

16 Aug, 2019 1:30pm
6 minutes to read

Comment: This week in New Zealand so much been made by so many on the basis of so little.

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Gregor Paul: The hidden World Cup clues in All Blacks team naming

15 Aug, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Comment: All Blacks selectors have revealed two key insights into their World Cup squad.

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Gregor Paul: The great decline - All Blacks' least convincing year in a decade

13 Aug, 2019 2:08pm
4 minutes to read

Comment: Rarely in the past few years has there been this much pressure on the All Blacks.

Scott Barrett became just the fourth All Blacks player to be shown a red card. Photo / Getty Images

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Gregor Paul: Don't fear for the All Blacks - fear for rugby itself

11 Aug, 2019 3:00pm
5 minutes to read

Comment: Why Scott Barrett's red card is a worrying sign ahead of the World Cup.

Scott Barrett of shown the red card. Photo / Getty

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Gregor Paul: Why Barrett red card was least deserved in history

11 Aug, 2019 12:00am
4 minutes to read

Comment: Tests can be a right old mad house when French ref Jérôme Garcès is in charge.

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Gregor Paul: How 'likeable' All Blacks missed a trick in Australia

9 Aug, 2019 7:00pm
6 minutes to read

Comment: ABs didn't have public relations on their agenda and missed an opportunity.

Sam Cane, Kieran Read and Ardie Savea. Photos / Getty Images

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Gregor Paul: All Blacks loosies and the single greatest piece of advice

8 Aug, 2019 7:00pm
4 minutes to read

Comment: There's no reason why ABs trio should be at sixes and sevens against Wallabies.

Beauden Barrett chats to Kieran Read. Photo / Getty Images

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Gregor Paul: Selection dilemma that could make or break All Blacks

8 Aug, 2019 5:00am
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: The All Blacks have had plenty of experience at seeing the concept go wrong.

Disappointment on the faces of the All Blacks, from left, Aaron Smith, Angus Ta'avao, Dane Coles, Dalton Papali'i, Sam Whitelock and Matt Todd after their drawn test. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

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Gregor Paul: The one factor that will help ABs' lack of urgency

6 Aug, 2019 2:13pm
4 minutes to read

Comment: There is no ambiguity about what the consequences of losing will be for ABs.

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Gregor Paul: Why All Blacks' next experiment exposes deeper problem

3 Aug, 2019 3:00pm
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: No All Black has been able to reach the benchmark set by Jerome Kaino.

Beauden Barrett looks on after the All Blacks' 16-16 draw with the Springboks. Photo / Getty

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Gregor Paul: The truth about Beauden Barrett's 'cheating'

2 Aug, 2019 3:00pm
7 minutes to read

COMMENT: Rugby has an endemic culture of gamesmanship that borders on cynicism.

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Gregor Paul: An element of faith - the All Blacks' calculated risk

30 Jul, 2019 2:42pm
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: The All Blacks have taken a calculated risk to play a different style.

Beauden Barrett of the All Blacks makes a break. Photo / Getty

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Gregor Paul: Barrett was brilliant - but did All Blacks' experiment work?

27 Jul, 2019 9:45pm
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: It was by no means a roaring pass mark for the Barrett-Mo'unga combination.

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Gregor Paul: The two All Blacks who must step up or face axe

26 Jul, 2019 5:00pm
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: Competitive tension is wrapping itself a little too tightly around some players.

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Gregor Paul: The one thing 'powerless' SBW must do to make World Cup squad

25 Jul, 2019 5:00pm
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: Sonny Bill Williams is battling something which he's powerless to prevent.

All Blacks first-five Beauden Barrett runs with the ball during their match against Argentina. Photo / Getty

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Gregor Paul: The one lesson All Blacks must learn before World Cup

23 Jul, 2019 7:00pm
5 minutes to read

Comment: The All Blacks are a slave to their DNA and can't resist what comes so naturally.

Kieran Read of New Zealand leads the Haka prior to kickoff during the international match between Ireland and New Zealand at Soldier Field on November 5, 2016. Photo / Getty Images.

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Gregor Paul: The popular fad All Blacks aren't buying into

20 Jul, 2019 9:37am
4 minutes to read

Comment: It's a popular fad that has screamed 'bad idea' and the ABs aren't buying it.

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen poses following a media opportunity. Photo / Getty Images.

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Gregor Paul: Thinking four moves ahead - the method to Hansen's 'madness'

19 Jul, 2019 10:52am
7 minutes to read

Gregor Paul: The Pumas/Springboks and Steve Hansen's convenient cover story.

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Gregor Paul: Why Blues fans can start dreaming of a Super Rugby title

13 Jul, 2019 4:30pm
4 minutes to read

If the theory is right, Beauden Barrett will transform the Blues into a championship team.

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Gregor Paul: The invisible force that could make or break the All Blacks

12 Jul, 2019 3:00pm
7 minutes to read

The Cricket World Cup has served a powerful reminder about knock-out sporting contests.

Sam Whitelock, Crusaders captain. Crusaders vs. Blues. 2019 Investec Super Rugby. Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand. Photo: Photosport.co.nz

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Gregor Paul: Super Rugby's torturous road back to commercial viability

6 Jul, 2019 1:06pm
4 minutes to read

Super Rugby will survive but the road back to commercial viability looks torturous.

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Gregor Paul: Liam Squire and the All Blacks' number one rule

5 Jul, 2019 3:00pm
6 minutes to read

Forget scrummaging prowess and all-round ball skills, here's NZ's big World Cup weapon.

No other World Cup squad will have the confidence in their players that the All Blacks will. Photo / Getty

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Gregor Paul: The All Blacks selection issue everyone's missing

2 Jul, 2019 7:00pm
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: Think the selectors got it wrong ahead of the Cup? Here's 23 reasons they didn't.

All Blacks Liam Coltman, Shannon Frizell and Waisake Naholo during the national anthem, during the third rugby test match between the All Blacks and France, 2018. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

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Gregor Paul: What to expect from All Blacks' squad-naming

29 Jun, 2019 3:00pm
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: How will Hansen and co see the marginal calls and how will they set the squad up?

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Gregor Paul: The simmering resentment ruining Blues rugby

28 Jun, 2019 3:00pm
7 minutes to read

Blues ask for review of current system after yet another failed Super Rugby campaign.

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Gregor Paul: The PR campaign killing world rugby

25 Jun, 2019 6:43pm
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: World Rugby can't seem to protect the Rugby World Cup from ridicule.

Beauden Barrett of the Hurricanes looks on during the round seven Super Rugby match between the Hurricanes and Crusaders. Photo / Getty Images.

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Beauden Barrett's Auckland move

24 Jun, 2019 5:55pm
4 minutes to read

The world's best playmaker will relocate to Auckland after the World Cup.

Crusaders and All Blacks front rowers Joe Moody, Owen Franks and Codie Taylor. Photo / Getty

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Gregor Paul: How Crusaders offered a glimpse into ABs' World Cup strategy

22 Jun, 2019 4:00pm
4 minutes to read

It's not everyone's cup of tea but it's sure to sit high on the agenda for the All Blacks.

The scrapping of the proposed Nations Championship could have far-reaching consequences for New Zealand Rugby and the All Blacks. Photo / Getty

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Revealed: The gaping $30 million hole in New Zealand Rugby

22 Jun, 2019 11:00am
7 minutes to read

Gregor Paul: Steve Tew knows there aren't many magic tricks left for him to perform.

Akira Ioane could play his first test against Argentina next month. Photo / Getty

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Gregor Paul: The All Black pick that won't be universally popular

18 Jun, 2019 3:00pm
4 minutes to read

Over the past four years, no one has tested the selectors' patience more than Akira Ioane.

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Gregor Paul: Is 2020 All Blacks coach receiving hospital pass?

15 Jun, 2019 11:45am
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: There's a serious loss of experience, leadership and ability on ABs horizon.

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Gregor Paul: Why Blues move could break Beauden Barrett

14 Jun, 2019 3:00pm
7 minutes to read

COMMENT: It would be the greatest career risk an established All Black has ever made.

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Gregor Paul: The five players who will have to consider leaving the Crusaders

11 Jun, 2019 3:00pm
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: Several players have found themselves a victim of the club's recruitment success.

New Zealand Rugby (NZRU) chief executive Steve Tew, in front of the trophy cabinet, after announcing he will stand down from the position. Photo / Mark Mitchell

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Gregor Paul: New NZR boss has pressing business - and it's not the ABs

9 Jun, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: Auckland was the nut Steve Tew couldn't crack. And he definitely tried.

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Gregor Paul: How Nonu became the hardest All Black to replace

8 Jun, 2019 5:00am
7 minutes to read

Nonu is the one member of the golden generation the All Blacks haven't managed to replace.

Outgoing NZ Rugby chief executive Steve Tew. Photo / Getty

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Hit or miss? Rating Steve Tew's 12 years in charge of NZ Rugby

5 Jun, 2019 5:30pm
7 minutes to read

Rugby writers Gregor Paul and Patrick McKendry run the rule over Steve Tew's reign.

Despite his stellar season with the Chiefs, Brad Weber could be overlooked as the All Blacks' third halfback - in favour of Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi. Photos / Getty, Photosport

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Gregor Paul: All Blacks risk sending terrible World Cup message

4 Jun, 2019 3:00pm
4 minutes to read

Comment: One selection, more than any other, could leave All Blacks fans fuming.

The rugby sevens squads for the Rio Olympics. Photo / Jason Oxenham

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Gregor Paul: Olympics are not in sevens heaven

2 Jun, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: It must suck every fourth year being a male sevens player in this country.

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson before the round 2 match of the 2019 Super Rugby season between the Reds v Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

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Gregor Paul: The overlooked secret to the Crusaders' success

28 May, 2019 3:00pm
5 minutes to read

The Crusaders have made themselves just about invincible in Christchurch, but how?

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Gregor Paul: Time running out for injured ABs? Don't be silly

25 May, 2019 3:00pm
5 minutes to read

There's still four months until the World Cup kicks off and that's an age in rugby terms.

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Gregor Paul: Guilty or not, naïve Crusaders let themselves down

24 May, 2019 3:00pm
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: There will be lingering disappointment about Bridge and Mo'unga's decisions.

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Gregor Paul: Tougher than McCaw? The All Blacks' genuine hard man

21 May, 2019 3:00pm
4 minutes to read

Sam Cane should receive universal recognition for being a player with special qualities.

The All Blacks have regressed in an area they used to dominate. Photo / Getty

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How the All Blacks' greatest strength is turning to their biggest weakness

18 May, 2019 10:00am
5 minutes to read

Comment: When was the last time the All Blacks scrum was under any kind of pressure?

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Gregor Paul: Pushy parents to blame for school rugby mess

18 May, 2019 6:00am
7 minutes to read

COMMENT: In the last decade, pushy parents have hijacked the entire rugby system.