Now that the rugby party’s (almost) over – what do we do now? Well, there is our political future to consider – and to play our part. It was great to see on the victory dias on Sunday, acknowledgement of all those in the All Blacks side who had contributed in some way on or off the field, including the temporarily disabled – Aaron Crude ...

21 October (Auckland) Last week Wales and Australia both lost to fairer nations – this week the contest is much tighter, just as it’s likely to be on the field. Australia edges out Wales in the crucial income inequality stake, at least on paper, but neither nation’s figure is very impressive. Wales’ income inequality is quit ...

15 October (Auckland) On the numbers, there’s little dispute over who’s favourite to win on social equality here. France’s number 6 place on our rankings (just below NZ) is earned through high places on gender equality and the happy planet index, and a good showing on income equality (its Gini measure of 32.7 places it 5th among the rugby nat ...

8 October (Wellington) The quarters begin with Ireland, the highest ranking remaining team on our social equality indicators, taking on 9th ranked Wales. (Farewell to the Brave Blossoms of Japan who topped our overall table at the start of the tournament). Ireland’s high placing comes in part from low military spending, and relative generosity in ...

18 September (Dunedin) One of the games Christchurch didn’t get because of the earthquake. There are plenty of jobs in the Christchurch rebuild and there will be plenty of English tries in this match, according to our rugby analyst. The English are possible semi-final contenders, while Georgia have won only one rugby world cup game in two previou ...

Sunday 18 September (Napier) Today sees another clash of two closely ranked teams, with Canada hoping to crush one of their country’s former colonial masters (and most of New Zealand likely backing them). The key equality measures – of income and gender equality – could hardly be much closer, with Canada taking the slightest of advantages in ...