United Rugby Championship
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Ben Smith
@bensmithrugby
A former financial analyst & auditor in retail banking, Ben is a columnist at RugbyPass specialising in opinion-based analysis, breaking down rugby as he sees it, to uncover what professional teams are trying to do around the world.
1251 Articles
Latest
10 days ago Super Rugby Pacific
All Black loose forward returns for Crusaders
10 days ago International Rugby
The form All Blacks backline
12 days ago Super Rugby Pacific
Biggest threat to the Chiefs is not the Crusaders
16 days ago International Rugby
All Blacks don't need to bother with a bomb squad
Opinion
What went wrong with the Highlanders this season
Year two of the Highlanders under returning coach Jamie Joseph has presented challenges as the franchise sits in last place curren…
Ben Smith
19 May 2025, 20:23
Opinion
Moana Pasifika took the shackles off Ardie Savea and he won MVP
Moana Pasifika loose forward Ardie Savea has been named the inaugural MVP of Super Rugby Pacific in his first season with the club…
Ben Smith
18 May 2025, 0:47
Opinion
The truth behind NZR's finances
The number one headline generated by NZR's latest annual results was the -$19.5 million net income loss, but the truth of the matt…
Ben Smith
17 May 2025, 16:36
All Black first five returns for Hurricanes to face Highlanders
All Black first five-eighth Brett Cameron will make his return from injury after a seven month long stint on the sidelines when th…
Ben Smith
13 May 2025, 21:00
Opinion
Chiefs' secret weapon again on show in regular season sweep of Crusaders
When the Chiefs opened the season with back-to-back wins over the Blues and Crusaders in the first two rounds, they were instantly…
Ben Smith
10 May 2025, 20:20
Jordie Barrett produces man-of-the-match showing after benching drama
All Black midfielder Jordie Barrett has produced a man-of-the-match showing for Leinster in their thumping of Zebre by 76-5 in the…
Ben Smith
10 May 2025, 16:25
Opinion
USA team in Super Rugby Pacific is not the answer right now, but this is
The answer for Super Rugby Pacific is not to expand the number of teams, it's to take the existing teams into new markets and work…
Ben Smith
07 May 2025, 18:02
Blues make two changes for Drua challenge in Fiji
Having beaten the Western Force at Eden Park last weekend, the Blues are well and truly back into playoff contention in 7th place …
Ben Smith
06 May 2025, 21:54
Analysis
What went wrong for the Blues after their championship breakthrough
The encore for the Blues breakthrough championship season in 2024 has not been pretty, slumping as low as 9th over the first half …
Ben Smith
06 May 2025, 13:16
URC teams aren't proving Stephen Donald wrong
Former All Black Stephen Donald might not be right about the quality of the United Rugby Championship league, but the URC teams ce…
Ben Smith
03 May 2025, 21:58
'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out
Leinster's quest for a fifth European title will have to wait another year after the club was knocked out in dramatic fashion at h…
Ben Smith
03 May 2025, 18:14
Opinion
Final hurrah for the All Blacks Sevens
The All Blacks Sevens finish their season in Los Angeles this weekend at the World Championship event after a series of disappoint…
Ben Smith
30 Apr 2025, 20:56
Highlanders looking to keep season alive versus Moana Pasifika
Highlanders co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai is back in the midfield as his team prepares to host Moana Pasifika on Sunday afternoo…
Ben Smith
29 Apr 2025, 21:34
Backline reshuffle for Blues after Tele'a suspension
The Blues have reshuffled their backline ahead of their must-win game against the Force on Friday night as the season goes on the …
Ben Smith
29 Apr 2025, 21:21
Hurricanes' backs in All Black contention because of what 'Rieko is not getting' at the Blues
The Hurricanes win over the Brumbies, the first by a New Zealand side on Australian soil, came after the return of a handful of ke…
Ben Smith
29 Apr 2025, 17:20
Opinion
South African rugby's top heavy house of cards
There isn't anything below the Springboks that is a screaming success right now. After three years of competition in Europe, it lo…
Ben Smith
23 Apr 2025, 21:01
Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx
A bombshell report on a planned change to eligibility in the Japan Rugby League One is set to to have ripple effects across rugby …
Ben Smith
23 Apr 2025, 14:37
Highlanders battle injuries ahead of Crusaders clash
The Highlanders have been hit with the loss of two wingers, their prop, and captain Hugh Renton as they prepare to host the Crusad…
Ben Smith
22 Apr 2025, 21:28
Crusaders name rookie loose forward to start against the Highlanders
The Crusaders have made a back row re-shuffle for their trip to face the Highlanders as they look to continue their hot form after…
Ben Smith
22 Apr 2025, 21:17
Opinion
Wallabies-All Blacks is not the only option for an ANZAC day fixture
While a Bledisloe clash is dead in the water, it's not the only option available to fill ANZAC day with some representative rugby …
Ben Smith
21 Apr 2025, 20:06
