Month: April 2019
Cricket: Alex Hales banned for 21 days for recreational drug use to leave England in dilemma over his future
Alex Hales faces a crucial meeting with the England management this weekend with his World Cup place on the line after it emerged he is serving a 21-day ban for recreational drug use. England’s carefully laid World Cup plans, which…
First XV Rugby: All You Need To Know about the weekend's best matches and players
Want to know who the next Beauden Barrett or Kieran Read will be? In his new weekly column for the Herald, schoolboy rugby expert Herschel Fruean singles out the best First XV matches of the weekend, and some rising stars to watch….
Phil Gifford: The best and worst of the weekend's Super Rugby
Seven talking points from Super Rugby, the quote of the year so far, and a squad picked only on this weekend’s form. TRY OF THE WEEK In a crowded field, a drum roll and then a standing ovation please for Ardie Savea, who 15 minutes…
Super Rugby: Highlanders show resilience to fight back into contention
In going from Super Rugby’s basement into a playoffs position, the Highlanders have shown resilience over the past fortnight and now appear far greater prospects than the Blues or Chiefs.Aaron Mauger’s men put 52 points past the…
Football Ferns squad revealed for World Cup
Football Ferns coach Tom Sermanni has named an experienced squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. The 23-woman squad, who have set the goal of making history for New Zealand by being the first team to win at a World Cup…
Chris Rattue: Come on Steve Hansen, Sir Graham Henry nailed this All Blacks 2019 Rugby World Cup issue
Let’s play the word association game.All Black blindside flanker. Quick now. Give us THE name.Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh…ummmmmmmmm.In other words, World Cup winning coach Sir Graham Henry is absolutely right . “If you look at the…
Cricket: The breakdown of Black Caps performances in the IPL as the 2019 Cricket World Cup looms
With the Cricket World Cup just around the corner, we break down how the New Zealand stars have been faring in the IPL. Kane Williamson (Sunrisers Hyderabad) Contract: NZ$646,000Matches: 5Innings: 5Runs: 41Average: 8.2High…
Super Rugby: Jordie Barrett and Sevu Reece stake big claims for All Blacks roles at 2019 Rugby World Cup
Watching Beauden Barrett and little brother Jordie give the opposition the sort of treatment they developed years ago when they lived on the family farm in Pungarehu and nobody could get the ball off them would have gladdened the…
'Back in the All Blacks mix': Super Rugby's winners and losers
The winners and losers from this weekend of Super Rugby. Forward of the week: Tom Franklin (Highlanders) Lock Franklin was a man possessed against the poor old Sunwolves in Tokyo. He was physically dominant but creative too and…