Featured Experts
GREG GROWDEN
This is Mumm's calling - Deans
Saturday, July 5, 2008In regards to his first starting Test appearance, new Wallabies second-rower Dean Mumm could not have been given a more formidable assignment.
RUPERT GUINNESS
Pants man puts Lote to bed
Monday, June 30, 2008FRENCH rookie Alexis Palisson has revealed that being embroiled in the "pants down" affair that ignited a potentially explosive head-to-head with Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri motivated him for his Test debut on Saturday night - even if their clash was short-lived.
Regular Experts
SPIRO ZAVOS
Tri Nations will pose many questions
TOWARDS the end of Saturday night's Test against France, Australia had five players on the field in their first year with the Wallabies: Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, Luke Burgess, Ryan Cross and Peter Hynes.
EWEN MCKENZIE
We have the spine, now for the meat
DURING my off-season research, I discovered that the Crusaders' home-ground advantage is worth 13 points. Other venues also offer the home team some love, but the advantage falls into the six- to nine-point range. That deficit is just one challenge we need to overcome to hold up the Super 14 trophy tonight.
JOHN CONNOLLY
Let's get into bed with the Kiwis
I bumped into All Blacks legend John Hart at a recent New Zealand Warriors rugby league match and he floated an idea that could help the development of the game on both sides of the Tasman.
PHIL WILKINS
Tackle of the century the final, fitting act in Bledisloe heart-stopper
Phil Wilkins has been asked to rank his top five Australia v New Zealand matches in the countdown to the first 2008 Bledisloe Cup game, on July 26. Today, it's No.4: One-off Test, Sydney Football Stadium, August 17, 1994. Australia 20, New Zealand 16.
MARC HINTON
So'oialo inherits No.7 jersey
Hurricanes flanker will inherit both of Richie McCaw's jobs for the Tri Nations opener against the Springboks in Wellington.
DUNCAN JOHNSTONE
Henry's bold claim: This is the mother of all tests
Forget a certain World Cup quarter-final - these are the world champions. And that has led Graham Henry to rate Saturday's Tri Nations opener against the Springboks as the biggest test his All Blacks have faced during his five years in charge.
PHIL LUTTON
Mental strain sinks Croft
In the end, it wasn't David Croft's body that succumbed to the constant pounding of a decade of elite rugby.



