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Mindset of Champions 6: Coaching PhilosophiesNext up in our Mindset of Champions series, we look closely at the coaching philosophies of those who have taken teams to great success.
In this piece we hear from a variety of coaches including Sir Graham Henry, Wayne Smith, Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt on how they coach and develop teams, focus on the fundamentals and how they empower player ownership.
These insights are key for any coach who wants to continue developing themselves and their squads.
Bledisloe draw leaves Aussies with hollow feelingThe Wallabies denied the All Blacks a record 18th consecutive victory with a 12-12 draw in Sydney on Saturday night.
But Australia should have won.
A rare victory would have further fuelled the feel-good factor in Australian rugby generated by the Waratahs’ recent Super Rugby triumph. Instead, the Wallabies find themselves trudging to Eden Park, the graveyard of Bledisloe dreams since David Campese and Simon Poidevin spearheaded the series victory of 1986.
Coming soon: Wayne Smith on winning the ballAccording to Wayne Smith, at least 40% of tries scored worldwide come from turnover ball. In this new series, Wayne shows you how to win the ball off your opponent from high kicks and in the tackle.
Watch the preview here:
France 2014: Women's Rugby comes of ageThe Women’s Rugby World Cup has been a remarkable success, and things have never looked better for the women’s game. France 2014 has seen marked improvements from a number of different countries, in skills, physicality, and athleticism, as well as huge growth in spectator numbers.
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Cheika inspires Waratahs to historic Super Rugby victoryWith the NSW Waratahs’ victory in the Super Rugby final, Michael Cheika is now the first coach to have captured the most-prized domestic titles in both the southern and northern hemispheres.
Graham Jenkins looks at how Cheika’s unconventional approach and management team turned around the ailing franchise.
Mindset of Champions 5: Dan and Richie's CareersFollowing the previous episode on these great player’s lives, we hear from Dan and Richie on their career journeys. From first being selected to play for the All Blacks to their biggest accomplishments and which players they most respect as opponents.
Watch the preview:
Brave attacking style powers Ireland past NZMurray Kinsella wraps up his analysis of the stunning Irish women’s victory over New Zealand at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, with a focus on the Irish team’s attacking play.
Irish defence and conditioning stun New ZealandMurray Kinsella begins a look at how the Ireland women’s team pulled off one of the finest results in the history of the game on Tuesday, as they beat a highly-fancied New Zealand 17-14. In this article Murray focuses on the Irish team’s fantastic conditioning and defensive effort.
Mindset of Champions 4: Dan and Richie's StoriesOur Mindset of Champions series continues with an exclusive look at the lives two of modern rugby’s most influential players – Daniel Carter and Richie McCaw – in their own words.
In these episodes, we interview these greats of the game about how they got into rugby, their early years in the game, their motivation, and their lives off the field.
These videos are a must for all students of the game and anyone who aspires to play at the elite level.
Watch the preview or sign in to watch the full videos.
7's at the Games: Tietjens raises the stakes in the quest for gold180,000 tickets were sold for the two days of Sevens action at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Beaten finalists New Zealand have raised the stakes for Rio 2016 by announcing that the country’s elite players – All Blacks and Super Rugby Players – will be encouraged to join the quest for rugby’s first Olympic gold medal since 1924.
How will the rest of the world respond?
Mindset of Champions 3: Leigh HalfpennyThe third episode of the ‘The Mindset of Champions’ features British Lion, Welsh international, and IRB Player of the Year 2013 nominee Leigh Halfpenny.
Leigh speaks openly about his love of his club and the importance of giving back to the game that has given him so much.
He speaks fondly about his grandfather who was undeniably the biggest influence in his career. And how when he is feeling under pressure in a big game, he mentally takes himself back to his homeground, and how important it is to put your misses “to bed”.
“My grandad said: If you’re not putting the hard work in – there’s always someone who will.”
German lessons from the 'other' World CupGermany showed at the FIFA World Cup that they are the world’s best football team. Graham Jenkins looks at what RWC contenders can learn from the success of coach Joachim Löw and Die Mannschaft
