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The Final: NZ v RSA

There are some rivalries that transcend their sport. India v Pakistan, The Ashes, City v United, Spurs v Arsenal, Everton v Liverpool, Michael Jordan v Isaiah Thomas, Nadal v Federer. As much as the home nations, and France are united in their hatred of England, it is safe to say that rugby’s most celebrated rivalry is New Zealand and South Africa. Tracing its roots back to 1921, the Boks and the…

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QF Preview: France v South Africa

This is the Final, tonight. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

To say that Rassie Erasmus has the most difficult job in world rugby would not be an understatement. The Springboks are not just a rugby team, which he can select on form and talent. They are a symbol – a heavily weighted one – of the rainbow nation and its bipolar relationship with the sports team. To add to Rassie’s woes, injuries occurred early on to Handre Pollard and Lukhanyo Am, his most…

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QF Preview: Ireland v New Zealand

New Zealand’s RWC pedigree reads: Champions, Semis, Runner-Up, Quarters, Semis, Quarters, Champions, Champions, Semis. Not a terrible return. Ireland’s World Cup pedigree reads: Never beyond a quarter final. So it is improbable to think that we we are now at an RWC quarter final and Ireland are the top-seed going into the Stade De France on Saturday. Perennial RWC favourites New Zealand seem…

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FRAvNZ: Opening Night Review

In terms of time, column inches, broadcast minutes and impatience for it to come around, I don’t think there has been a game this anticipated, since perhaps the third Lions’ Test in 2017. The entire rugby world, neutral and supporter alike, were waiting for kick off at the Stade De France. Much of the lead up to most tournaments, whether it be pundits on tv, or punters at the bar, is about…

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I’m up at 6 and somehow don’t seem to want to wake up. It’s hot these days but the sun doesn’t come up till well after 7am which takes some getting used to. I drag myself ou…

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RWC Diary: 10th September 2023

I’m up at 6 and somehow don’t seem to want to wake up. It’s hot these days but the sun doesn’t come up till well after 7am which takes some getting used to. I drag myself out of bed and pack for a couple of days. I expected this to be autumny and didn’t pack a lot of Sri Lanka type clothes, so I’m a little light on appropriate clothing. This means I have to wear my All Blacks shirt on a train…

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RWC Diary: 9th September 2023

It’s Saturday, and after two days of mad running around, I have a bit of a lie in. Plenty on the cards in terms of matches, but two are foregone conclusions with Italy purring into a bit of confidence over Namibia who were brave in their game and Ireland smashing the daylights out of Romania. Many people will talk about how these teams probably shouldn’t be on this stage, but let’s not forget…

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RWC Diary: 8th September 2023

It’s game day! What a build up this game has had so far, much more than even RSA v NZ from 2019 in Tokyo. I check my e mail again, just to make sure I wasn’t sleep walking, and confirm that my ticket is, indeed, approved. After a massively tiring previous day, I stay in all morning. It’s easy to forget that I’m a middle-aged man now and might not be as quick to recover from late nights and heat…

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RWC Diary: 7th September 2023

It’s 7am when I touch down at CDG. Make it off the plane pretty quickly and bid adieu to Jack and Kathy, from Melbourne who I befriended on 6 hour journey from Doha. They are here to watch their 15 year old grandson play rugby and hopefully watch the Wallabies beat Wales. The immigration queue is long, but moves relatively quickly. The odd thing about being brown in France, is everyone assumes…

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