BRAVE NEW WORLD
Bringing in the Experimental Law Variations to Super 14 was always going to be a huge risk and create mixed opinion about their worth. The new rules were also going to suit some teams and players more than others and Gregor Paul tries to assess who might want to see the ELVs stay for good and who wants them kicked for touch.
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THE EAGLE HAS LANDED
After threatening to waken from it slumber for the past 20 years, the USA finally has all the right pieces in place to become a super heavyweight.    Full Story >>

UNLUCKY BREAK

DESPITE THE professional game becoming ever more physical, it still remains rare for players to have their careers cut short by injury.
So it defied all the statistical probabilities in 2007 that the Blues had three players who all had to quit before their time.As well as Witocmbe, there were also halfbacks Steve Devine and David Gibson who were forced to give the game away at a time when they still had much to offer.
Gibson’s injury was strangely similar to the one incurred by Witcombe while Devine had to stop playing after enduring a series of nasty concussions in the last couple of years of his career.   Full Story >>

KIWI’S ABOARD
A host of former All Blacks and renowned superstars have found their way to the English Premiership in recent seasons. But the man who has probably made the biggest impact is Glen Jackson, the cheeky Bay of Plenty first five who could never quite nail a starting spot with the Chiefs.




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THE MASTER OF WARCRAFT
Daniel Braid appeared to be a victim of the All Blacks cotton wool club last year. He was in the form of his life and was deservedly named Player of the Year, but that wasn’t enough to force his way into the national side. He’s hoping, once he recovers from shoulder surgery, that he’ll add to his tally of three test caps.
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BLESSED AGAIN BY THE RUGBY ANGELS
2007 was supposed to be the year Dan Carter established himself as the best player in the world as part of an all-conquering All Black team. It didn’t happen like that, though, and the 26-year-old was instead plagued by injury and patchy form which saw his season end with him limp to the stands in Cardiff with 20 minutes of the World Cup quarter-final still to go.
It was a hugely disappointing year for the Cantabrian but he says he’s already put it behind him and his early form suggests he’s as good as his word.
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DESTROYER OF DREAMS
French flanker Thierry Dusautoir suffered his lowest point when he played against the All Blacks in 2006. By October 2007 he was the hero of a stunning French win in Cardiff. IAN BORTHWICK spoke to the 26-year-old about his amazing journey.   Full Story >>

A LEGEND’S LAST STAND
WHILE MANY of the nation’s rugby scribes have said the controversial rotation policy was a major factor behind New Zealand’s early exit at the Rugby World Cup, former All Black selector Sir Brian Lochore is adamant it was necessary, insisting that without it there wouldn’t have been sufficient depth in the squad to cover injuries.   Full Story >>

10 OF THE BEST FULLBACKS


IF THERE is one thing that unites rugby folk around the world, it is their desire to make lists of the best players, teams, matches and tries. We all love it - selecting our all time World XV, ranking players by position even working out who we think the best referees have been. We love the debate, we love reminiscing and trying to put the modern game into context. And because we love it so much, we have decided that every edition this year we will devote two pages to list making - just for the pure love of pointlessly and endlessly arguing about who was the best. We start this month by asking just who were the 10 best fullbacks to ever play the game? Whether you agree or disagree, we want to hear from you. So get online at www.nzrugbyworld.co.nz and give us your opinion.   Full Story >>

I COULDA BEEN A CONTENDER
BEFORE THE season gets thoroughly underway and good sense is over-ridden by raw emotion; before we awake from summer slumber remembering that, no, we didn’t win that damn thing and, yes, he still is the coach, I thought I’d kick-off 2008 with a look at a list every All Black fan has at some stage compiled – in their own minds at least – the Worst All Black XV Ever.
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