New Zealand Rugby World is the premier authority on our national game; with sharp analysis and irreverent humour the two key components. In both style and content the writing is award winning and provides an unparalleled depth of insight into the people who play the game and the issues that matter to the fans. The cast of contributors is world class as is the photography and lay-out. Pick this magazine up and you won't want to put it down - rugby has never been so much fun.
EDITOR’S LETTER
NZ Rugby World
STILL GOT IT • While we were basking in the summer sunshine, rugby was still being played in the UK despite the lockdown. Bath played Bristol in a classic local derby which brought the best out of former All Black Steven Luatua.
SUMMER LOVING • A new strain of the Coronavirus was ripping through South Africa but they pushed in with their Currie Cup. They played on the searing heat of December and January – including his game between Western Province and Natal.
THE GREAT MAN • Richie McCaw was the star attraction at the annual Black Clash cricket match in Christchurch. The former All Blacks captain showing he can turn his arm over pretty well.
SKY SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA 2021
BLUES
CHIEFS
CRUSADERS
HIGHLANDERS
HURRICANES
TRANS TASMAN SUPER RUGBY
THE FIVE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS • THE REDUCTION TO FIVE TEAMS HAS MADE OUR LIFE EASY AS TYPICALLY OUR PREVIEW IS 40 PER CENT GUESS WORK AND 60 PER CENT MAKING STUFF UP. BUT NOW WITH LESS RESEARCH TO DO, THIS PREVIEW IS 30 PER CENT GUESS WORK, 60 PER CENT MAKING STUFF UP AND 10 PER CENT STUFF YOU MIGHT WANT TO REMEMBER.
WIDER ISSUES TO THINK ABOUT
PLAYERS WE THINK WILL LIGHT UP THE COMPETITION
PLAYERS WITH MOTIVATION TO PERFORM
STORYLINES THAT WILL HOLD THE NATIONAL AGENDA
PLAYERS WE ARE GENUINELY INTRIGUED TO SEE
FIVE POSSIBLE UNEXPECTED STARS
POTENTIAL NEW ALL BLACKS
HOW THE NZ TEAMS WILL FINISH
BLUES COACHING STAFF • LEON MACDONALD, TOM COVENTRY, TANA UMAGA, DANIEL HALANGAHU, BEN AFEAKI.
DEEP THE TALENT POOL • FROM HAVING AN ABUNDANCE OF FIRST-FIVE RICHES IN 2015, THE ALL BLACKS NOW ONLY HAVE TWO RECOGNISED NO 10S. THIS YEAR THEY ARE HOPING TO DEEPEN THEIR TALENT POOL.
CHIEFS BREAKING THE DROUGHT COACHING STAFF • CLAYTON MCMILLAN, NEIL BARNES, ROGER RANDLE, NICK WHITE, DAVID HILL
TOP 10 BEST SIGNINGS • THERE WASN’T A HUGE AMOUNT OF HUMAN MOVEMENT GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF 2020 BUT A FEW PLAYERS HAVE COME HOME FROM EUROPE AND JAPAN AND A FEW OTHERS HAVE SWITCHED CLUBS.
HURRICANES COACHING STAFF • JASON HOLLAND, TYLER BLEYENDAAL, CORY JANE, DAN CRON, CHRIS GIBBES
JOSTLING FOR POSITION • LIAM SQUIRE IS BACK WITH THE HIGHLANDERS AND HAS REDISCOVERED A DESIRE TO PLAY TEST FOOTBALL WHICH MEANS THE ALL BLACKS NOW HAVE FIVE ASPIRING BLINDSIDES HOPING TO WEAR THE NO 6 JERSEY.
BLINDSIDE PECKING ORDER
NZRUGBY WORLD • THE WORLD'S PREMIER RUGBY MAGAZINE
ESCAPING THE RAT RACE • SAM WHITELOCK AND BRODIE RETALLICK COULD RE-ESTABLISH THEMSELVES AS THE WORLD’S PREMIER LOCKING COMBINATION NOW THAT BOTH MEN HAVE HAD THE EXTENDED BREAK THEY NEEDED.
CRUSADERS 2020: CHAMPIONS COACHING STAFF • SCOTT ROBERTSON, JASON RYAN, SCOTT HANSEN, ANDREW GOODMAN, TAMATI ELLISON.
HIGHLANDERS COACHING STAFF • TONY BROWN, RIKI FLUTEY, CLARKE DERMODY, SHANE CHRISTIE
THE PLAYING VICTIM • NZ RUGBY WORLD HAS BEEN GIVEN AN EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT FROM EDITOR, GREGOR PAUL’S, NEW BOOK, THE CAPTAIN’S RUN. THE CHAPTER LOOKS AT WHETHER VARIOUS ALL BLACKS CAPTAINS HAVE BEEN VICTIMISED OVER THE YEAR.
MAKE SOMEONE'S YEAR WITH A PRESENT THEY WILL LOVE • A ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION IS JUST $35 AND THEY WILL NEVER BE BORED!
THE NUT CRACKER...