Latest news with #StephenDonald
NZ Herald
11 hours ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Ranking every Super Rugby final from worst to best
Cameron McMillan updates his annual rankings of previous Super Rugby final encounters with the help of a hazy memory, YouTube highlights and Herald match reports. 31) Bulls 61 Chiefs 17 - 2009 Stephen Donald set up Lelia Masaga for the opening try thanks to some classy footwork to give the
NZ Herald
02-06-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Stephen Donald's slip of the tongue appears to confirm Jono Gibbes as new Chiefs coach
Former All Blacks first five-eighths Stephen Donald appears to have accidently announced Jono Gibbes as the replacement for Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan. Gibbes, who played 68 times for the Chiefs during his career, linked up with the Hamilton-based franchise for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season as a resource coach.
IOL News
26-04-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Stormers' John Dobson hits back at Stephen Donald URC criticism
WAR OF WORDS South African United Rugby Championship coaches, led by John Dobson, have hit back at Stephen Donald's criticism, emphasising the competitiveness of URC as akin to Test match rugby compared to Super Rugby. Picture: BackpagePix Led by John Dobson, South African United Rugby Championship coaches have slammed the comments of former All Black Stephen Donald's assertion that the URC is less competitive than Super Rugby. Donald said: 'The URC competition is probably a low, a very, very low level compared to Super Rugby, the Champions Cup stuff certainly would be [of the same level] when discussing Jordie Barrett's to the All Blacks after playing for Leinster.' Donald was speaking alongside fellow former All Black Jeff Wilson on The Breakdown TV show. The comments of Jordan have sparked the age-old north-south debate in world rugby, and Stormers coach Dobson was having none of it.
The Irish Sun
24-04-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Bernard Jackman hits out at ex-New Zealand star's ‘inaccurate clickbait' comments over Jordie Barrett's move to Leinster
BERNARD JACKMAN has accused Stephen Donald of "clickbait" after suggesting Jordie Barrett should be dropped from the New Zealand starting XV following his move to Leinster. Barrett, 28, signed for the Blues at the end of last year in a deal that will run until the end of the season. 3 Jordie Barrett moved to Leinster on a short term deal until the end of the season Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 Stephen Donald believes Barrett should be left out of New Zealand's starting team Credit: PA:Empics Sport 3 Bernard Jackman accused him of clickbait Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription The All Blacks utility back has scored four tries in nine appearances as Leo Cullen's men have gotten to the semi-finals of the Rugby Championship . However, his involvement in the URC led to Donald arguing that Barrett should not start for the All Blacks. He argued: "The URC competition is probably a low, a very, very low level compared to Super Rugby. "The Champions Cup stuff certainly would be [of the same level]. Read More on Leinster Rugby "Would I pick him in the squad? Yes, of course, he's the vice-captain, remember. "Would I start him? Not necessarily. "Nothing to do with his form, but more of a reward for the boys who have been in Super Rugby and played well all year." The comments about the Most read in Rugby Union He told RTE: "In actual fact the defensive systems in URC would actually be more rigid, more set in stone than Super Rugby. "Super Rugby is a great product, great skill, plenty of talent but set piece wise and defensively and that tactical element is far and above (in the URC). Ronan O'Gara bizarrely ends press conference after 23 SECONDS amid La Rochelle's continued poor form "First hand, I've seen coaches come over from Super Rugby and be shocked at the level of tactical knowledge, the systems they need to put in place for teams to compete in a Northern Hemisphere competition. "So Stephen Donald, he either doesn't know much about it, or he's just trying to make clickbait , but he's totally inaccurate there." There are currently five South African clubs playing in the URC - the Stormers , Dragons, Lions, Sharks , and Bulls. And Jackman believes this has allowed the URC to overtake Super Rugby on a tactical basis. He added: "That's not knocking Super Rugby, it's a good competition in its own right. "The URC would compete in that and people in New Zealand and Australia who are working in Super Rugby feel that it's gone backwards since the South African's pulled away. "There's lots of talented players in there, but in terms of actual detail, the Northern Hemisphere and the URC and Champions Cup in particular are more advanced, and that makes it very comparable."
