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Alex Chapman: All Yellows, The Rhys Derby, Kiwi Kieran
Alex Chapman • November 10th, 2025 10:56 am
Kiwis celebrate winning the Pacific Championship in Kieran Foran's final match | Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
So, as stand-in skipper Ardie Savea said after the match, the All Blacks still won.
And they won on an occasion which celebrated a century at a stadium with so much history and seems to have been on a lot of kiwis bucket-lists. That’s if Instagram is a gauge of Murrayfield's popularity.
On an individual note, Josh Lord continues to quieten the doubters with his combination of essential and basic second row skills and useful running and handling. His open-field running is one of several examples of the All Blacks forwards breaking the game open.
The determination and defiance of Damian McKenzie has, and should continue to be lauded. His willingness to fight through, despite blood shed and smeared over his face and jersey, all with a smile, would even impress William Wallace. Now there’s a way to wind up the Scots.
He suitably gets the headlines, though the work of the likes of Cam Roigard, who again played 80, and Beauden Barrett also shouldn’t go unnoticed.
But having suggested it had been ironed out, discipline continues to be the All Blacks biggest issue. New Zealand had seen yellow six times in their first five Tests of the year, though none in the same number of matches since. Now they’ve gone back to collecting them like a kid rediscovering the latest craze except no one is trading.
Leroy Carter’s binning was silly, Ardie Savea’s happens in those circumstances, and the arguments with Wallace Sititi’s is one for the law as opposed to the decision - all of them, though, breathed life back into the Scottish lungs, allowing the bagpipes to sound and hope renew.
The Scots should’ve punished them greatly for having reduced men for half an hour of the match, and if not for the combination of tactical management and clinging on for dear life, the All Blacks could’ve been on the wrong side of history.
They will continue to say they still got the win, which is true. Eventually though, in such circumstances, that may not be the case. And so the lessons must be learned, and adjustments made.
All Blacks lock Josh Lord earns player of the week award | The Bunnings Trade Rugby Run
Derby Drama
Speaking of playing with reduced manpower, how about Auckland FC?
To emerge from the drama of a derby with a win, despite being down two men, adds to the mythology of a rivalry that in a year has become box office.
The fact the Phoenix couldn’t capitalise on that enormous advantage for the 11+ minutes they had it, while not cause for concern (or perhaps it is, Nix fans?) is at least eyebrow raising.
These are the sort of matches, feuds, and let’s be honest, hatred that we need in sport in this country.
Auckland FC vs Wellington Phoenix, or the other way around depending on your team of preference or home side for the match, is now must-watch telly. It’s drama that rivals Shorty and has fans of both sides riding enormous highs and moments of brilliance, and dealing with doubt and nerves, all in the same game.
It was physical, there was fight (literally) and it had what is often missing from New Zealand’s sporting landscape; passion.
The players, coaching staff and fans wind each other up like bickering brothers, except it’s the youngest one who’s once again emerged on top from the wrestling in big bro’s bedroom.
Auckland FC have hung on with nine men to win a lively Kiwi derby against the Phoenix in Wellington | Photo: Masanori Udagawa/Photosport
Ka Kite, Kieran
If ever there was doubt over the value of international rugby league, Kieran Foran’s emotion said otherwise.
The often-stoic Kiwis half let the tears flow during the national anthem in the Pacific Championship final against Samoa, exhibiting just how much the black jersey means to him.
As he said afterwards, he grew up wanting to play for New Zealand, and wanted to do it proud. It’s been a career of doing that jersey proud.
The old dog also showed he still has many tricks. They weren’t new, but well-rehearsed and revised, which he’s shared and passed on to the rest of the pack, as shown by the Dylan Brown masterclass.
The Pacific Championship showed not just how much it means to players, but the importance and significance of the international game itself. Often Origin is put on a pedestal, and at times, rightly so. However, the crowds, performance and passion showed how much of a taonga it is.
Fans in both hemispheres have been feasting on it for the past few weeks, but at a time when the dining room is filled with people with massive appetites, they’ll now be starved of it again. A real shame.
Kieran Foran playing in his final Test for New Zealand | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Movember
As if the dusty attempts at facial hair didn’t give it away, Movember’s in full flight.
There’s some people doing amazing events for an even more amazing cause. Get around it, back your mates, check on them too.
Tune into Alex Chapman on Sport Nation Mornings, 9am to midday on Thursdays & Fridays.
