Opinion
Super Rugby Pacific
Contributors
Hamish Bidwell
@HamishBidwell
Hamish has been an opinion and sports writer for over 20 years in New Zealand, featuring on RNZ, New Zealand Herald, Stuff.co.nz, and RugbyPass.
243 Articles
Opinion
Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders
It’s heartening, for example, to see the Highlanders have won a game this season. Even if that result says more about the team t…
Hamish Bidwell
26 Feb 2025, 18:11
Opinion
It's not clear what the Force will get out of signing Leon MacDonald
I’m delighted Leon MacDonald has got himself a job. I’m just not sure what’s in it for the Western Force, at this stage.
Hamish Bidwell
24 Feb 2025, 18:00
Opinion
David Havili is a good player who could still add a bit to the All Blacks
In a Crusaders context Sam Whitelock was the leader of that team for years. Whether it was Kieran Read as captain, Whitelock himse…
Hamish Bidwell
16 Jan 2025, 1:29
Opinion
Scott Robertson has to take charge of his All Blacks in 2025
The more I think about the 2025 rugby year, the more I think it’s about Scott Robertson.
Hamish Bidwell
12 Jan 2025, 19:21
Opinion
It's time for the All Blacks to break up Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane
You couldn’t call Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane a combination. They’re two individuals trying to carry strongly when they get…
Hamish Bidwell
11 Dec 2024, 20:35
Opinion
Perhaps NZR did not learn from Folau after allowing the Haka hijack
Well, offence is a two-way street and it’s dangerous for sporting bodies to pick and choose which parts of the public they’re …
Hamish Bidwell
27 Nov 2024, 23:06
Opinion
New Zealand can't keep losing first fives like Harry Plummer
It’s just that New Zealand isn’t in a position to continue losing playmakers as accomplished as Blues pivot Harry Plummer.
Hamish Bidwell
20 Nov 2024, 14:28
Opinion
Regardless of the France result Razor's All Blacks have proved something
I’ve seen enough to judge this All Blacks season a success, regardless of what happens against France. It’s a belated success,…
Hamish Bidwell
14 Nov 2024, 5:08
Opinion
Please don't run around in circles Damian McKenzie
All McKenzie has to do is follow the game plan, kick his goals and the result should take care of itself, on one proviso.
Hamish Bidwell
07 Nov 2024, 4:27
Opinion
Joe Marler wasn't wrong to take a pop at the All Blacks' haka
I applaud Marler, the accomplished England prop, for his latest pop at the All Blacks haka.
Hamish Bidwell
29 Oct 2024, 22:45
Opinion
There’s nothing to be gained by playing Damian McKenzie against Japan
There’s nothing to be gained by playing McKenzie against Japan. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has seen all there is to see of…
Hamish Bidwell
22 Oct 2024, 19:29
Opinion
Injuries, not innovation, are driving change in Scott Robertson’s All Blacks
The All Blacks, as they’re constructed now, aren’t good enough to win the next World Cup. They need new players and new ideas.
Hamish Bidwell
15 Oct 2024, 21:57
Opinion
The age of dominance is all but over for New Zealand rugby
The Black Ferns seem a shadow of the team that won the last Rugby World Cup, our secondary schools’ team just got tipped over by…
Hamish Bidwell
08 Oct 2024, 17:36
Opinion
You wonder if Beauden Barrett will ever own the All Blacks at a Rugby World Cup
You wonder if Beauden Barrett will ever own the All Blacks at a Rugby World Cup. They should have been his team in 2019. Probably …
Hamish Bidwell
06 Oct 2024, 17:03
Opinion
Hard to see what the All Blacks are building unlike South Africa
But, really and truly, much of the match would’ve been a sobering experience for fans on both sides of the Tasman.
Hamish Bidwell
24 Sep 2024, 19:03
Opinion
The Bledisloe Cup was a better series when the Wallabies held it
In that period between 1998 and 2002, when Australia were last Bledisloe Cup holders, the games were often phenomenal
Hamish Bidwell
17 Sep 2024, 18:00
Opinion
The All Blacks' backline is to blame for Robertson's unflattering record
They weren’t manhandled at the breakdown or annihilated in the set pieces. Far from it, in fact. The All Blacks’ pack performe…
Hamish Bidwell
10 Sep 2024, 0:15
Opinion
Super Rugby's sorry state takes the blame for All Blacks' losses
The All Blacks, having excelled in the touch footy that suffices for Super Rugby these days, they remain completely ill equipped t…
Hamish Bidwell
03 Sep 2024, 18:50
Opinion
The All Blacks might just con the Springboks this time around
I just think a siege mentality will be sufficient to see the All Blacks rise to the sort of level we’ve seen so infrequently in …
Hamish Bidwell
27 Aug 2024, 23:36
Opinion
The All Blacks' best gameday 23 looking ahead to the next Rugby World Cup
As we plot a path towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup, I remain unconvinced New Zealand will veer away from players.
Hamish Bidwell
21 Aug 2024, 0:08
