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Dan Carter: coming back from adversity (part 1)Mental resilience is often an overlooked factor in sport, but it’s an essential part of the makeup of all champion athletes. Dan Carter is a prime example of this trait.
Following his return to the All Blacks’ No.10 shirt for the first time since the victory over England almost a year ago, Carter reflects on the ‘dark days’ of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and his determination to return to his very best for New Zealand’s defence of the sport’s biggest prize next year.
England come up short against the SpringboksSouth Africa’s narrow 28-31 victory at Twickenham reinforced that England’s player’s decision making and mistakes are costing them against the world’s top teams.
Word from Rats: Look beyond the scoreline at Soldier FieldAs we approach another great weekend of Autumn International matches the dust has well and truly settled at Chicago’s Soldier Field after the sell out All Blacks Vs USA Eagles match.
Far too much of the post-match debate has focussed on the scoreline and not enough about the wider context of profile and exposure for the game in a nation that has an insatiable appetite for sport.
WSU starts off their season with a winWashington State University Rugby Club won’t play their first game of the season until this weekend, but they have already got a win on the board.
Simon Newkirk, a WSU rugby player and keen member of The Rugby Site completed our survey and was the lucky winner of 12 months’ access for all coaches at the club.
Analysis: Ireland's work at the breakdown vs the SpringboksJoe Schmidt’s coaching philosophy is strongly founded on winning the breakdown and ruck, so we’ve analysed his Ireland team’s winning performance against South Africa last weekend.
Our in-depth examination of every breakdown and ruck shows who is doing the hard work in this highly technical area.
England’s latest loss to the All Blacks was flatteringSpin it any which way you please, England’s latest loss to the All Blacks was flattering. Their fifth successive loss to the All Blacks told us they can’t yet stick with the world’s best for 80 minutes. Forty minutes yes. Eighty, no.
England come frustratingly close againDespite England rattling the All Blacks in the first half, England lost out 21-24 at Twickenham yesterday as Richie McCaw and his men saved their best till last.
Vermeulen set to be unleashed on the IrishIreland are taking on a world-class No. 8 in Duane Vermeulen on Saturday. Standing 6’ 4", weighing in at 118kg, Vermeulen is playing some of the best rugby of his life. Murray Kinsella goes in-depth to find out just why the Springbok back rower is one of the most destructive forwards on the planet.
Wayne Smith: Mindset of a champion Part 2 of 3In part 2 of this series, Wayne Smith recounts the experiences that gave him the all-round skills and vision to mould the world’s most successful rugby teams.
Taranaki show pride in the shirtLiam Napier on Taranaki’s ITM Cup Premiership final win, and how pride and passion for the team has contributed to their success against the traditionally strong teams this season.
Ending Canterbury’s six-year reign in this competition Taranaki and other ‘underdog’ team’s success has sparked an increased interest in the provincial competition this season. The buy in from all the team shows what can be done with the right mix of players and collective passion.
Barbarians bring first-phase innovation to TwickenhamThe Barbarians come together from all corners of the globe to socialise and cobble together a loose strategy – with strictly equal emphasis.
When they perform as they did this weekend, running in five fabulous tries past the Wallabies, the legendary invitational side encourages smiles around the world. Though Sir John Kirwan’s charges went down 40-36, they will have stirred youngsters everywhere to shake off shackles and try things – a fantastic legacy.
SBW stars as All Blacks carve up Soldier FieldChicago’s Soldier Field has played host to a wide variety of events in its 90-year history ranging from American football to opera and boxing to ski-jumping.
Sonny Bill Williams, perhaps a modern day match for legendary Chicago Bears running back Walter ‘Sweetness’ Payton, took centre stage as the All Blacks routed the hapless US Eagles 74-6.
