NZ Rugby World

New Zealand Rugby World is the premier authority on our national game; with sharp analysis and irreverent humour the two key components. In both style and content the writing is award winning and provides an unparalleled depth of insight into the people who play the game and the issues that matter to the fans. The cast of contributors is world class as is the photography and lay-out. Pick this magazine up and you won't want to put it down - rugby has never been so much fun.

EDITOR’S LETTER

NZ Rugby World

TOTAL PUSHOVER • Anton Lienert-Brown wasn’t the only All Black to lose his cool with Nic White in Bledisloe IV. But he was still lucky not to have been penalised for shoving the Wallabies halfback like this.

PUMAS MAKE HISTORY • This was the impossible victory. The Pumas had been in lockdown for months, half their squad had suffered Covid and they hadn’t played for 402 days. And guess what…they beat the All Blacks for the first time in their history.

SMASH DOWN • Amy du Plessis of the Black Ferns tries to run her way to the tryline against the NZ Barbarians.

RUGBY REBORN • COVID BROUGHT ECONOMIC CARNAGE IN 2020 BUT RATHER THAN BEING SEEN AS A WRECKER OF FORTUNES, THE PANDEMIC WAS ACTUALLY A GIANT BLESSING

2020 PLAYERS OF THE YEAR • THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A SEASON QUITE LIKE 2020. WE SAW SEVEN ROUNDS OF SUPER RUGBY BEFORE A GLOBAL PANDEMIC SHUT THE WORLD DOWN AND CHANGED EVERYTHING.

EMERGING PLAYERS WHO IMPRESSED

WORST DECISIONS

FOUR BEST IDEAS

THINGS WE DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE

NOT SUCH A SURPRISE

NO SURPRISE AT ALL

LIKED TO SEE • ALL BLACKS CELEBRATING WITH MICHAEL HOOPER

DIDN'T LIKE TO SEE

WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE MORE OF

WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN LESS OF

TOUGHEST JOB IN THE WORLD • WORLD NZ RUGBY WORLD EDITOR GREGOR PAUL HAS A NEW BOOK OUT CALLED THE CAPTAIN'S RUN. IN IT HE EXPLORES WHAT IT TAKES TO LEAD THE WORLD'S BEST RUGBY TEAM, HOW THE JOB HAS CHANGED AND HOW THE VARIOUS LEADERS HAVE DEALT WITH PRESSURE, FAILURE AND SUCCESS.

THE 20 MOST MEMORABLE RUGBY ACTS OF 2020

WINGING IT FOR LONGER • TYPICALLY POWER WINGS DON'T LAST LONG IN THE ALL BLACKS. BUT CALEB CLARKE AND RIEKO IOANE ARE HOPING TO BUCK THE TREND.

THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS PRESENT • FOR THAT HARD TO BUY FOR RUGBY LOVER ALL AT A SPECIAL PRICE OF $35.

THE 30 BEST RUGBY PICTURES OF 2020

DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS • THE ALL BLACKS ARE NO STRANGERS TO FILTH AND YET THEY HAVE NO LOVE OF THE ENFORCER

WOW FACTOR • SCOTT ROBERTSON IS UNORTHODOX BUT HE'S ALSO BRILLIANT AND WANTS A JOB WITH THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS.

KIDS • MAKE SOMEONE'S CHRISTMAS WITH A PRESENT THEY WILL LOVE

BATTLE FOR THE BLEDISLOE • THE UNPRECEDENTED CONDITIONS OF 2020 SAW THE INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR HASTILY REDRAWN AND IN A UNIQUE TWIST FOR THE PROFESSIONAL AGE, THE ALL BLACKS PLAYED FOUR CONSECUTIVE TESTS AGAINST AUSTRALIA.

The Five Decisions That Turned the Series • From being a touch bumbling and reticent in game one, the All Blacks responded with two bruising performances to secure the trophy for the 18th consecutive year. Here are the five key things they did to transform themselves.

THREE KEY PLAYERS

INVESTING IN RUGBY TO CREATE POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE

THE WAITING GAME • THE DUAL PLAY-MAKING CONCEPT WAS NOT INITIALLY SUCCESSFUL OR POPULAR WHEN THE ALL BLACKS INTRODUCED IT LAST YEAR. BUT THE SYSTEM IS DEFINITELY WORKING NOW.

RUGBY ROYALTY • FRANS STEYN’S IMPACT AT LAST YEAR’S WORLD CUP ADDED MORE PRESTIGE TO A DECORATED CAREER THAT ISN’T OVER YET. CRAIG LEWIS FROM SA RUGBY MAGAZINE REPORTS.

TRIBUTES TO STEYN

NZ BEST XV OF 2020 • THIS IS THE XV WE WOULD PICK BASED ON OVERALL FORM AND INFLUENCE OF NZ...