Sport

Hurdles future for New Zealand Cup winner

BARRY LICHTER AT RICCARTON - © Fairfax NZ News

Super jumper Hypnotize might be retired but pretty soon his place could be taken by super stayer Blood Brotha, narrow but gritty winner of today's $225,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup at Riccarton.

Pacific all-stars eye games against England

AARON LAWTON IN HULL - © Fairfax NZ News

A proposal for England to tour New Zealand next year and play matches against the Kiwis, as well as a team made up of the world's top Pacific Island players, is on the table.

Kiwis wing Jason Nightingale on song

As a budding young league player in Sydney, he was nothing special. There was no call up to the Australian schoolboys' squad or an offer to play for one of the litany of New South Wales' junior rep teams.

Neil Wagner's eligibility wait winds down

BEN STANLEY - © Fairfax NZ News

Four months, two weeks and three days. Those are the numbers left on the clock for what's arguably been the longest countdown in the history of New Zealand cricket.

NZ Cup winner snubbed for Miracle Mile

BARRY LICHTER - © Fairfax NZ News

New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Terror To Love has missed out on an invitation to run in the $A500,000 Miracle Mile, a snub which the horse's trainers fear will result in fewer New Zealand horses contesting the race and a drop in the quality of the field.

Steve Hansen's toughest test ever in 2012

MARC HINTON - © Fairfax NZ News

All Blacks coach-in-waiting Steve Hansen is going to face challenges on two major fronts when he steps into the top job some time before Christmas.

Herbert's record not really so terrific

BILLY HARRIS - © Fairfax NZ News

OPINION: It's said that in New Zealand we have Tall Poppy Syndrome. To determine whether this is accurate or not would require a lengthy study.

Games planning shot to pieces for Adams

SIMON PLUMB - © Fairfax NZ News

Top Olympic hope Valerie Adams is aiming for three competitive New Zealand appearances during the final countdown to the 2012 London Olympics.

Gloves off over Brendon McCullum's rotation

LIAM NAPIER - © Fairfax NZ News

Brendon McCullum could be on a collision course with management over a decision to rest and rotate his wicketkeeping duties in limited overs cricket.

No fear in Terror To Love's strong heart

BARRY LICHTER - © Fairfax NZ News

The sign on the gate at Harcourt Lodge in West Melton warns to beware of the dog, but it doesn't prepare you for the pack of heffalumps that appear from nowhere to check you out.

Betham's scuffle with Cameron goes to ring

LIAM NAPIER - © Fairfax NZ News

Former Warriors hardman Monty Betham has downplayed an alcohol-fuelled scuffle with fearsome Fight for Life opponent Shane Cameron.

Badly blitzed Breakers not ready to panic

MARC HINTON - © Fairfax NZ News

Thomas Abercrombie summed up the fatalistic attitude to a bad night at the office for the Australian NBL's defending champions. "You win some, you lose some," shrugged last year's finals MVP.

You can't argue with quality of Argentina

PHIL GIFFORD - © Fairfax NZ News

OPINION: "Welcome to Argentina," said the official from the rugby club in Buenos Aires. "On Tuesday next week there will be a military coup, but don't be concerned. No shots will be fired."

Graham Lowe in scathing attack on Des Hasler

ADRIAN PROSZENKO - © Fairfax NZ News

Under fire sacked Manly coach Des Hasler threatened to walk out on the club for the 2012 season as far back as August 22 – even though he was already under contract with the Sea Eagles for next season.

Ross Taylor: We can take the Australians

DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - © Fairfax NZ News

Black Caps skipper Ross Taylor believes his team can beat Australia but stresses he isn't underestimating the challenge in the looming two-test series across the Tasman.

Pakistan bashers should Butt out

RICHARD BOOCK - © Fairfax NZ News

OPINION: Uh oh, here we go again. We do so enjoy playing the blame game.

Tourism blow for Valerie Adams showcase

SIMON PLUMB - © Fairfax NZ News

Downtown Auckland is on the brink of losing a landmark 2012 athletics event featuring reigning Olympic and world shot put champion Valerie Adams.

Chris Martin in hall of fame: Vettori

FRED WOODCOCK - © Fairfax NZ News

Daniel Vettori believes fellow test cricket veteran Chris Martin deserves to be regarded as one of New Zealand's finest ever test bowlers.

Major benefits seen in inclusion of minor nations

AARON LAWTON IN LONDON - © Fairfax NZ News

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney believes one-sided results against minnow league nations are a price that has to be paid.

Fifa probe as controversy whacks Oceania again

SIMON PLUMB - © Fairfax NZ News

Fifa is probing the deputy chairman of its disciplinary committee and treasurer of the Oceania Football Confederation, Dr Muhammad Shamsud-Dean Sahu Khan.

Steve Hansen's helpers face microscope

MARC HINTON - © Fairfax NZ News

Steve Hansen may be the All Blacks coach in waiting but he faces unprecedented scrutiny from his bosses at the New Zealand Rugby Union over the make-up of his support staff.

Lots to Crowe about in Hogan's comeback

BEN STANLEY - © Fairfax NZ News

Around 5.30pm yesterday, the Cornwall Premier Reserves' opening stand of 75 was finally broken.

Battered Cake Tin fortress vulnerable to invaders

BILLY HARRIS - © Fairfax NZ News

OPINION: The Wellington Phoenix's reputation as being almost unbeatable at home has taken a hammering in the last week.

Otago United undaunted by champions

BEN STANLEY - © Fairfax NZ News

Otago United coach Richard Murray believes his side are on the cusp of a new golden era, as they prepare to take on defending ASB Premiership champions Waitakere United at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin today.

The old-school coach who never stopped learning

OPINION: There will never be another like Graham Henry.

Turnouts for Breakers tell tale of two venues

MARC HINTON - © Fairfax NZ News

The people appear to have spoken. It just remains to be seen whether their voices are loud enough for the folks at NZ Breakers HQ to leap into action.

Luke admits it hurts to be labelled 'grub'

AARON LAWTON - © Fairfax NZ News

Issac Luke has felt better.

It's nuts to loosen wheels after pit stops

BERNARD CARPINTER - © Fairfax NZ News

Top qualifier Tim Edgell is hoping he won't come across any loose wheels in the feature race when the BNT New Zealand V8s championship gets under way at Pukekohe today.

Game of two halves at talent-heavy Blues

MARC HINTON - © Fairfax NZ News

When Piri Weepu announced his return to the Blues, you could have forgiven Alby Mathewson for uttering a few choice words.

Youngster Josh Atkins shakes off shivers

Josh Atkins endured a nervous final day on the Tour of Southland before riding his way to the yellow jersey.

Holt and Hareb set for boxing showdown

Paige Hareb and Hayley Holt will square off in next month's Fight for Life charity boxing night.

Wake up: don't put 'Ted' to bed

OPINION: Kiwis. We are such creatures of habit, especially when it comes to rugger. From over-egging the All Blacks' supposed superiority before last week's world cup final to almost comically underplaying the French team's chances, we could never be accused of learning from our mistakes. Now we're up to our old tricks again, feverishly debating all possible options for the new team coach, while the bloke we really want is quietly slipping out the back door.

Sonny Bill Williams saga drags on

The protracted saga of where global superstar Sonny Bill Williams will ply his trade next season is set to drag into another week.

Hooker's 'cannonball' tackle has Kangaroos fuming

The Kangaroos have reacted furiously to Kiwis hooker Issac Luke's "cannonball" tackle on prop David Shillington during yesterday morning's Four Nations opener at Warrington and called for it to be banned.

T-Rex vows vengeance on 'dirty' Kiwis

Kangaroos strike forward Tony "T-Rex" Williams has vowed to repay the Kiwis for their "dirty" tactics in yesterday's fiery encounter at Halliwell Jones Stadium if the two teams meet in the Four Nations final.

Six reasons why this was the best ever Rugby World Cup

OPINION: The hype was right, we really did see a stadium of four million.

King Kong packs his bags at last

OPINION: RWC now stands for something different. Rugby Withdrawal Condition. What are we going to do now it's all over?

Breakers centre Wilkinson puts Kings to sword

The Breakers miss Kirk Penney, but Gary Wilkinson was razor sharp in their first home game.

Breakers keep open mind on Vector move

Breakers boss Richard Clarke was over the moon with the success of the home opener at Vector Arena, but does not see the move becoming a permanent one for the champion Kiwi club.

Blues after Graham Henry if he stays in NZ

England are after Graham Henry, but the NZRU is already down the track in negotiations with the world champion All Blacks coach.

NZRU boss keeping rugby revenue on the radar

NZ rugby boss Steve Tew made headlines around the globe when he dangled the threat of pulling the All Blacks out of future World Cups.

Lion Tamer dies at Moonee Valley

New Zealand's best stayer Lion Tamer, early favourite for the Melbourne Cup, had to be put down at Moonee Valley yesterday after breaking a leg during the $A3 million Tatts Cox Plate.

Sorry old chap, the haka's no joke

OPINION: The All Blacks haka continues to polarise opinion, particularly from abroad. Apparently it was all right in the days when it was performed pathetically and apologetically by a bunch of sheepish, mainly white players, and seen as a self-deprecating joke. How amusing it was, in a black-and-white minstrels sort of way. If only the players had continued along that vein, portraying the Maori culture as an embarrassment, everything would still be hunky-dory.

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