Rugby
McKenzie has plans for facing All Blacks
Paul Cully EWEN McKenzie is not a coach who takes backward steps. He has declared he wants the Wallabies job and says he already has plans on how to beat the All Blacks.
Rugby
Deans wanted to be 'the martyr', says All Blacks coach Steve Hansen
Paul Cully ALL BLACKS coach Steve Hansen has lifted the lid further on his uneasy relationship with Wallabies rival Robbie Deans.
Dublin, Edinburgh and Cardiff rejoice at All Blacks' decimation
Paul Cully Occasions when the Irish, Scots and Welsh take any satisfaction from famous victories at Twickenham are rarer than accords stating all affairs are best run by the born-to-rule crowd from Westminster,...
Rugby
No denying ITM Cup's place as a nursery for next generation of All Blacks
Paul Cully There was a sight to cheer the souls of NSW fans and content new coach Michael Cheika on Tuesday night: a Waratahs winger, Peter Betham, frightening New Zealand defenders with his pace, power and...
Union
I preferred Graham Henry over Robbie Deans for All Blacks job, says skipper Richie McCaw
Paul Cully Richie McCaw has revealed that he told the NZRU that the Graham Henry-led ticket was the better option than appointing Robbie Deans after the All Blacks' 2007 World Cup failure.
Rugby
Barnes steps up a gear and jumps in driving seat to face All Blacks
Paul Cully The early naming of the Wallabies team this week conveyed an encouraging degree of certainty in the selectors' minds: this is our best team and we think they have Wales' measure.
Rugby
Lions to offer Wallabies a glimpse of the future ... either way
Paul Cully Athletic, ambitious, skilled - the full array of the British and Irish Lions' repertoire became frighteningly clear on Saturday night.
Rugby
Lions scrum swallows pill to prove a lasting headache
Paul Cully Such is the spread of rugby intellectual property these days (for example, there can be barely a player in the Wallabies or Lions camp not coached at some level by a New Zealander) there are plenty...
Tight Five
Even the Kiwis would envy Australia's openside stocks
Paul Cully Michael Hooper provides the Waratahs' silver lining.
Rugby
McKenzie ensures real contest for tourists
Paul Cully A combination of the Western Force's weakened team and the sporting public's fascination with State of Origin thuggery might have convinced the Lions there isn't much love for them in these parts,...
Rugby
Tahs face tough Lions line-up as Test side emerges
Paul Cully The Waratahs might not get the Lions at absolute full noise in Sydney next Saturday, but it'll be a stronger side than the one the Reds, Brumbies or Rebels have to face.
History is just that, and Tahs can crack Crusaders' weakened backbone
Paul Cully The burden all Crusaders teams carry is to be constantly compared to the great sides that preceded them. The one the Waratahs will face tonight is labouring somewhat to get out of those shadows.
Rugby
Questions over perfect 10 not the half of it
Paul Cully The good news for the Waratahs ahead of their game against the Crusaders on Friday night is that Dan Carter had a below-par game against the Chiefs on Friday and is human.
Tight Five
Quade Cooper, time-space and the Galacticos theory
Paul Cully Nic White showed Wallabies mettle. If you were looking for a reaction from one of those overlooked for last week's 25-man Wallabies squad, this was it.
Rugby
Lions in the sand: Hansen praises Australian sides
Paul Cully The strong form of the Australian Super Rugby sides has been recognised at the highest level across the ditch, with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen admitting on Monday: "This is a tricky year for us."
Rugby
Tahs need to be wary as Chiefs bulk up, SBW style
Paul Cully The question most asked of the Chiefs has a simple answer. No, they haven't replaced Sonny Bill Williams, but for the first time this season they have picked a side that looks best equipped to...
Rugby
Wallabies improving, just don't tell them
Paul Cully It would be easy to imagine Wallabies coach Robbie Deans with a look of contentment as he surveyed the state of play after the weekend.
Rugby
Wallabies mustn't ignore young bulls
Paul Cully Remember the name of Bulls inside-centre Jan Serfontein. The outstanding young midfielder - big, strong, fast but with skills and vision- has the ability to change the way the Bulls attack and be a...
Rugby
Openside duels will whet appetites
Paul Cully If you intend to have your happiness levels influenced by the outcome of Bledisloe Cup encounters over the next decade, there are two tasty duels in the next two rounds that cannot be missed.
Rugby
Second row must be first priority for Deans
Paul Cully The Wallabies have big problems in the second row: that's a hard concept to grasp
