In part two of The Spinoff Music’s two-is-not-a-thing sports series, Steve Newall goes in search of that most elusive beast: the great sports song. Read part one, in which Gareth Shute writes a new All Blacks supporters’ song, here. New Zealand has tried its hand at many a sporting song, with everyone from the Feelers to … Read more
It is a succinct, disquieting, apparently context-less tweet that has become a classic of the form. But why did Piers Morgan write it? Calum Henderson investigates. At 12:51pm EDT on Sunday the 2nd of September, 2012, Piers Morgan tweeted “I want to die.” Those four words typed by the divisive television personality and former newspaper … Read more
The former political spin doctor talks to Toby Manhire about the controversial tour, and what happens when the media guy becomes the story. Read our interview with Campbell about the UK election omnishambles here. The 2005 British and Irish Lions side arrived in New Zealand full of promise. Coach Clive Woodward, still enjoying the afterglow … Read more
The new logo adorning the Blackcaps’ shirts belongs to an Indian dairy giant with a long-running advertising campaign based around spectacular puns. It looks like it could be a secret society which dabbles in the occult, or the name of Brendon McCullum’s latest racehorse. But the word ‘Amul’, printed in a heavy medieval font on … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Calum Henderson reviews an old pack of rugby cards. These days Oamaru is known as the steampunk capital of New Zealand, but back in the late 1980s and early 1990s it had a much better claim to fame. For … Read more
Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson took the reins as the Crusaders head coach at the end of last season. So far his Super Rugby coaching record reads: 12 wins, no draws, no losses. Scotty Stevenson caught up with him in Fiji last week to talk about his coaching philosophy ahead of the Crusaders’ Friday night match against … Read more
A change has come at the top of Scotty Stevenson’s power rankings after the Crusaders dethroned the Hurricanes in a New Zealand conference classic. 1. Crusaders (up 1) I am a man of my word. Last week I suggested the Crusaders were “the only team you would actually back right now to have the defensive … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Don Rowe reflects on Shaun Johnson’s clutch kick against the Roosters. It takes a special kind of masochist to devote Sunday after Sunday to seeing the Warriors ritually humiliated at home and abroad. But pleasure and pain are two sides … Read more
Calum Henderson talks to Yuko Inaba, the rugby-loving artist behind the delightful internet presence Nadegata Penguin. In the cutthroat world of art it is important for an artist to find their niche. Yuko Inaba’s niche is painting rugby players as cute penguins. The Tokyo watercolourist is prolific, sharing a new painting on Facebook, Twitter or … Read more
We normally review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time etc. But today an anonymous Spinoff writer was in Denver, witnessing NBA history. Russell Westbrook has been tied with Oscar Robertson for most triple-doubles in a regular season at 41 apiece since the Thunder wasted the Bucks at home on … Read more
Gordon Hunter was a detective – a very good one, according to everyone who worked with him and not a few who were put away by him. He was also one of the most memorable rugby coaches of his, or any, era. This weekend the Highlanders and Blues will contest the trophy named in his … Read more
Scotty Stevenson’s Super Rugby Power Rankings make a triumphant return for 2017. 1. Chiefs The Chiefs played like they were on dial-up for the best part of 70 minutes last week and still managed to win a game of footy by 13 points. There is nothing at all special about the style of the Chiefs, … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Calum Henderson watches Australasia’s fast and furious new bowls tournament. The North Shore Events Centre was absolutely going off last night, but not as the result of a Mika Vukona putback dunk to send a Breakers game to overtime or … Read more
Amy Satterthwaite is the second person, and only woman, to score four consecutive ODI centuries. Madeleine Chapman caught up with her to see about making it five. “If you just read it as it’s spelled, it’s quite straightforward, but people seem to freak out.” Amy Satterthwaite doesn’t sound too bothered by the fact that commentators … Read more
With Super Rugby about to kick off for 2017, Scotty Stevenson picks some rising stars in the New Zealand squads who could make their mark on the competition this season. Sio Tomkinson – Highlanders You don’t need to be a madly passionate Highlanders fan (is there any other kind?) to know this team is well … Read more
Both the Black Caps and White Ferns had impressive wins yesterday on the cricket pitch. But while the Black Caps are all over the news, the White Ferns performed a greater feat and were arguably more entertaining, or so says women’s sports apologist Madeleine Chapman. On Wednesday afternoon, while avid cricket fans were at work with … Read more
Full credit to the young flanker’s races outfit, says Rose Hoare – style was the winner on the day. Scrolling through Twitter last week, I saw an image that stopped me in my tracks. It was All Black Ardie Savea at the Wellington Races, in an outfit so fresh that for a minute I couldn’t … Read more
A weird thing happened to me at the cricket yesterday: for the first time in my life I felt sympathy for Australia, confesses Jamie Wall. It was at around 4:30pm yesterday that the unthinkable happened. Maybe it was the oppressive heat. Maybe it was because I’m almost 36 and slightly more rational these days. Or … Read more
The Wellington Sevens that took place this weekend was a noticeably less raucous party than tournaments of years gone by. Ruined by the ‘Fun Police’? Emily Writes isn’t buying it. The Sevens is no longer a drunken mess, she says – and that’s a good thing. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but The Fun … Read more
Close to 100 cricketers have represented New Zealand in limited overs internationals since numbers were added to the backs of players’ shirts, but none have ever worn the number 69. Why not? Calum Henderson investigates. When Lockie Ferguson runs in to bowl for the Auckland Aces in T20 and one-day cricket, he does so with … Read more
World Rugby recently introduced new tackle ball laws, and everyone’s arguing about whether they’re good or bad. Hayden Donnell attempts to settle the debate with a binding legal judgement. One of the greatest things about rugby is being allowed to assault people without going to jail. Every rugby field is a 100m-long amnesty zone where … Read more
What do you see when you look at the Canterbury logo? If you’re one of the estimated 50% of New Zealanders who are oblivious to its true meaning, sit down, take a deep breath, and prepare to have your world turned upside down. Hayden Donnell reports. You’ve probably looked at the Canterbury logo thousands of … Read more
As the country counts down to the Joseph Parker vs Andy Ruiz WBO world heavyweight championship fight, The Spinoff presents FIGHT WEEK, an inside look at the life and career of Joseph Parker. Today we’re republishing ‘Inside Team Parker’, the 1972 magazine cover story on the boxer’s rise and rise. Lupesoliai La’auli Joseph Parker is … Read more
As the country counts down to the Joseph Parker vs Andy Ruiz WBO world heavyweight championship fight, The Spinoff presents FIGHT WEEK, an inside look at the life and career of Joseph Parker, culminating in the Barkers 1972 magazine cover story Inside Team Parker on Friday. Today, Don Rowe follows Team Parker as they prepare … Read more
The Australian cricketer’s refusal to sign an R.M. Williams boot during last night’s One Day International forced me to reconsider his character, writes Calum Henderson in a stunning flip-flop. https://twitter.com/rustyjacko/status/806059078724108288 Like most New Zealand cricket fans I have spent the last seven years thinking the Australian cricketer David Warner was bad. Since his international debut … Read more
As the country counts down to the Joseph Parker vs Andy Ruiz WBO world heavyweight championship fight, The Spinoff presents FIGHT WEEK, an inside look at the life and career of Joseph Parker, culminating in the Barkers 1972 magazine cover story Inside Team Parker on Friday. First, a chronicle of Parker’s amateur experience and transition to … Read more
“Who the hell does Brendon McCullum think he is?” asked our recent mildly inflammatory headline to a review of the former Black Caps captain’s new autobiography. As we enter our first summer of cricket in 14 years without him, Dan Luoni asks: who the hell do we think Brendon McCullum is? That Brendon McCullum has … Read more
Aaron Smith’s career is in a steep decline. Hayden Donnell takes a deep dive into the toll having sex has taken on the once-masterful halfback’s career. Aaron Smith was dropped from the All Blacks’ starting line-up yesterday. The announcement felt inevitable. A long time coming. A mercy delivered to a broken man. It’s easy to … Read more
Congratulations, New Zealand. The court of public opinion has outdone any mere judge, delivering a punishment that reeks of knee-jerk outrage and lazy prejudice, writes Madeleine Chapman. Losi Filipo was today re-sentenced to nine months’ supervision and counselling for assault. After being discharged without conviction earlier this year, the victims spoke out to the media … Read more