Jamie Wall

Today marks exactly 100 years since the first ever All Blacks v Springboks test, played at Carisbrook in Dunedin. It was the start of the most heated and controversial rivalry in rugby, on and off the field. Read about all of it in my book The Hundred Years’ War:

REF DOWN

Freakin’ sweet try from the Canes

Also the Highlanders mascot guy used to be enough of a celebrity to make school visits

OK so the general feeling is that the Highlanders’ logo is a Braveheart nod/ripoff…but what if it was based on the actual Highlander, Connor McLeod of the clan McLeod? They could really lean into that…

Congratulations to James Slipper who will become Super Rugby’s highest capped player this weekend. I’ll never forget the time he became momentarily mesmerised by my South Queensland Crushers hat during a press conference. READ ➡️ open.substack.com/pub/jamiewallr…

I was in Tokyo in 2019 when Sonny Bill Williams, completely unprompted, called for more brown faces in the All Blacks coaching staff. Right now it looks as though he’s got his wish. READ ➡️ open.substack.com/pub/jamiewallr…

The most frustrating rugby social media content you’ll see this season * in their defence, how on earth would they know

@mark_keohane Can I stay at your place?

@JamieWall2 Welcome home

Greatest Rivalry Tour attendance: confirmed. Looking forward to returning, seeing all my friends and making some new ones in South Africa, this is going to be one hell of a trip. 🇳🇿🏉🇿🇦

@Ringo26 How Good 2 Be Back

@JamieWall2 The How Good 2 tour is going to be epic.

@haribaldijones I can promise a livelier press box experience than the one at Eden Park

@JamieWall2 See you there

@Ringo26 And the 2015 Super Rugby final

Now do the 2024 Currie Cup.

The cognitive dissonance around high scoring rugby games @jamiewallrugby/note/c-228253055?r=2u4bw&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">substack.com/@jamiewallrugb…

@GregAFC Back three should always be the most transferable form-wise. Just pick the two wingers who have scored the most tries, and Will Jordan

@JamieWall2 Opened this thinking I was gonna have to ‘argue’ why the hell Devan Flanders wasn’t there….😉 But you didn’t let me down. Good man 😂 P.s that outside back trio you’ve named there could well be the starting trio in black IMO.

New argument topic open.substack.com/pub/jamiewallr…

Can we now presume Tana Umaga will be added to the All Black coaching staff? @martindevlinnz

People shitting on Pollock but this was the far worse showboating in the grand scheme of things. If Chessum had been looking at the posts he would’ve seen clear space and made the kick far easier, pretty important considering the game was decided by two points.

Tana Umaga confirms All Black coaching approach from NZR, weighs in on TMOs and gives his verdict on the pulsating Six Nations finale open.substack.com/pub/jamiewallr…

Expanded on this here: open.substack.com/pub/jamiewallr…

I mean that was a great test match, no doubt about that. But seriously, the fact that so many people are ready to venerate this as the greatest 6N of all time? Its key component has been high scoring matches and a kit clash, making a lot of what you’ve said about Super Rugby since like, forever, feel just a tad two faced right now. But hey, keep blaming NZ and Aus for trying to make stuff like this happen on a more regular basis! And this isn’t just a dumbass social media thing, either. This perception literally manifested itself into a situation at World Rugby level just last month, so like maybe put away the partisan perceptions and just admit you like watching tries get scored?