I’m heading out the door for Hamilton, to see Scott Robertson’s give-everyone-a-go XV play the French E team. It’s going to be cold but it will be good.
I have dredged Google Photos for some very special stadium memories for you to enjoy - for the full experience, please ring your cow bell while reviewing these images.
It is a magical place.
Super rugby final 2023. Deeply cursed game.
A glorious win over the Blues in 2005. And just look at that sky.
Main stand.
Māori All Blacks v the Lions in 2005. A fantastic win.
All Blacks v Tonga in 2019 - a rare daytime Test and a fantastic day out.
Standing behind this guy was a peak moment. Shoutout to the GOAT Hamilton sub-metal merchants.
Thanks for reading - Richard
This week's best NZ sport content
Stories from the Premier League, a review of season one and a run through NZ sports media with Auckland FC’s Nick Becker [The Fold]
There’s no need to be embarrassed by the fact that, across multiple sites, you click on every headline that begins “All Blacks player ratings”. It is a function of your prefrontal cortex that you like your information processed in sequential and list form. It’s not the cheap and nasty analysis you’re chasing, it’s just responding to nature.
Insisting that player ratings be done right is a The Bounce cornerstone, and the rules are laid out extremely clearly here [The Bounce]
Latest release of women’s sport media stats are out and the level remains up there, despite all the big shows (Olympics, Cricket World Cup etc) being held overseas [Locker Room]
Shane Bond, one of the nicest guys / most fearsome players in cricket on his path to the top [Development Squad]
Video nasty
If you’re missing Wimbledon’s Andrew Cotter, get one more fix:
Long read
If you’re like me and have fallen out of touch with cycling and the Tour De France lately, this will catch you right back up again [nplusone]
Recommendation
Can thoroughly recommend Rachel Kushner’s The Mars Room, what a build up, what an ending.