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Unlike the Crusaders, Highlanders and Hurricanes, who also won't participate in Super Rugby Pacific this weekend, the Blues can perch themselves on their couches without having to reflect on any bad business from the previous round after beating the Highlanders. The Crusaders and Highlanders, especially, would have been desperate to pull their work…

Scott Barrett has been replaced at blindside flanker by Akira Ioane, with Tupou Vaa'i moving onto the bench, while Karl Tu'inukuafe replaces prop Aidan Ross on the bench. Barrett is understood to have an Achilles injury which has hampered him all week. Seconds out, round three. After the poor display and historic loss in Dunedin last weekend, the…

Sam Cane has retained the All Blacks captaincy as part of Friday's squad announcement for this year's Rugby Championship - coach Ian Foster's first public comments since the cancelled press conference last Sunday after the side's series loss to Ireland. Foster named a 36-man squad for this year's tournament in Auckland on Friday afternoon after…

England star Burgess admits he's doing front-rows an injustice with his current prolific scoring run. Props aren't renowned for try-scoring feats but the big South Sydney forward is in terrific form in this World Cup. "It's four tries in four games - but I'm not really counting," he deadpanned, having only scored four in his previous 25 Tests. "I…

After a dramatic build-up, Super Rugby Pacific got off to an entertaining start last week. The Fijian Drua might not have got a first-up win, but they were still a huge hit in Sydney as they fell to the Waratahs 40-10. There were wins for the Crusaders, Chiefs and Reds on Saturday, before a Sunday afternoon thriller was taken out by the Brumbies…

Rugby Union comes to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London as the star-studded Barbarians take on a team of All Blacks bolters, all of whom are hoping to be amongst the runners and riders in New Zealand's squad ahead of next year's World Cup. While the Baa-Baas are yet to play this autumn, the All Blacks XV have already enjoyed a run-out…

Fijian Pita Gus Sowakula has been dropped from the New Zealand All Blacks for the upcoming Rugby Championships. Sowakula, who made his debut in the series loss against Ireland, is replaced in the loose forwards by Shannon Frizell. George Bower, Hoskins Sotutu and Sevu Reece are the Fijians named in the squad with Sam Cane retaining the…

Get ready for a gut-churning, nerve-racking Saturday afternoon. Whether you are backing England or Samoa, their World Cup semi-final at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium is going to be one hell of a game. And one thing is for sure - this time, it will not be 60-6 like when England thrashed Samoa in the opening game of the World Cup. Semi-finals can be the…

The first international rugby league in almost three years saw some emphatic performances over the weekend ahead of the World Cup in October. New Zealand threw down a marker to World Cup favourites Australia after thrashing Tonga, as Joey Manu played the Test of his life. Anthony Milford delivered for Samoa against the Cook Islands, while Fiji fell…

With COVID cancellations and postponements across different leagues, it feels important to be optimistic. Rugby has plenty of exciting attractions in 2022, both at the elite level, and emerging competitions. We preview seven rugby highlights to look forward to this year: After memorable performances from England, France, and Ireland in the Autumn…

There are now just three unbeaten teams in Super Rugby Pacific, with the Crusaders, Brumbies and Reds sitting in first, second and third respectively after three rounds of the tournament. Elsewhere in Round 3, there was an historic first win for Fijian Drua, while the Blues and Hurricanes also picked up victories. Read on as we look at some of the…

Beauden Barrett races away for one of two tries against the Highlanders. Photo / Photosport Blues 35 Highlanders 6 One down, two hurdles to clear for the Blues. Two strikes from stand-in skipper Beauden Barrett propelled the Blues to their 14th straight win of the season, and into next Saturday's home semifinal against the winner of the Brumbies…

It's crunch time in the Bunnings NPC with just four teams remaining to challenge for the title of 2022 champions. The first semifinal pits traditional rivals Wellington and Auckland against each other at Sky Stadium on Friday night. The action moves to the South Island on Saturday with Canterbury hosting the Bay of Plenty Steamers at Orangetheory…

As the All Blacks embark on their northern hemisphere tour, head coach Ian Foster will know that there are plenty of areas his side need to work on despite winning the Rugby Championship. Some of the team's greatest flaws were exposed during the Championship, and as a result they experienced some record breaking lows. Some of those problems have…

The All Blacks began their preparation for their northern hemisphere tour with an open training session in Nelson this week, ahead of their Test against Japan in just over two weeks' time. They also decided to unearth some footage of the squad in the gym from a few months ago, and Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga will be pretty happy with that. That…

The bulk of the Rugby Championship squad has been retained, as the All Blacks set their sights on the Northern Tour, while a number of players from the Ireland series have returned to the squad. Props Nepo Laulala and Ofa Tuungafasi, along with winger Leicester Fainga'anuku, return to Foster's squad. They missed The Rugby Championship, following…

The bulk of the Rugby Championship squad has been retained as the All Blacks set their sights on the Northern Tour whilst a number of players from the Ireland series have returned to the squad. Props Nepo Laulala and Ofa Tuungafasi along with winger Leicester Fainga'anuku return to Foster's squad after missing The Rugby Championship following the…

The All Blacks may be struggling for consistency, identity and fluency through this most problematic of seasons, but there is one thing we can rest assured about: the trans-Tasman rugby rivalry is alive and kicking ahead of the Rugby Championship finale against the Wallabies on Saturday night. The events of Bledisloe I at Marvel Stadium just over a…

All you need to know ahead of the second Bledisloe test between the All Blacks and the Wallabies at Eden Park (kickoff at 7.05pm): It all comes down to this, well sort of. The All Blacks can move into pole position on the Rugby Championship table with victory in the second Bledisloe Cup test. In terms of the Rugby Championship, all four teams could…

New Zealand vs Australia: The All Blacks and Wallabies have the first move in the final play for the Rugby Championship. Australia appear to have been fired up by what went down last Thursday but can they pull one over on New Zealand. Injuries have forced changes to the All Blacks team that defeated Australia in Melbourne, with captain Sam Cane,…

With the Bledisloe Cup wrapped up for 2022, the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship and a 28-year unbeaten streak at Eden Park are on the line on Saturday night. Match details: All Blacks v Australia, Saturday 24 September, 7.05pm NZT, Eden Park, Auckland Played: 174 Won: All Blacks 121, Australia 45, Drawn 8 Last time: All Blacks 39, Australia 37 (15…

All Blacks skipper Sam Cane has been ruled out of this weekend's Bledisloe Cup test in Auckland due to injury. ' Cane is one of a number of forced changes to the All Blacks team that defeated Australia in Melbourne, with Scott Barrett, David Havili and Quinn Tupaea also unavailable for selection this week. Sam Whitelock will lead a side which has…

Will there be bolters? Who is on the outer? Who is in white-hot form? There's certainly plenty to ponder after nine rounds of Super Rugby, which featured no shortage of bruising Kiwi derbies. As the three-match test series against Ireland in July creeps closer, rugby scribes mix both form and availability and name varied All Blacks XVs. Marc…