#Sam Cane

After an epic game of rugby, the team with their head in their hands was not the one most people were expecting. It is not often that you see the All Blacks upset at the end of the game, but when England bring your world cup winning streak to an end it is no surprise to see a few tears. After winning their last 18 world cup matches they were…

By Alex McLeod of RugbyPass.com Ian Foster's 35-man All Blacks squad will assemble for the first time today in Whakatane as preparations for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup series get underway. Plenty of anticipation has arisen since last week's confirmation that the All Blacks and Wallabies will do battle with each other for the first time in over a…

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…

We asked our sports reporters at Stuff to say what they think the new year will bring and we'll be holding all of them accountable by seeing how right, or wrong they were, when we review their picks in 12 months' time. ANDREW VOERMAN The Football Ferns get their first Fifa Women's World Cup win against the Philippines at Sky Stadium in Wellington…

The international season may have come to a close, but the action continues and Two Cents Rugby has joined us again to pick out his players to watch in 2023. Indeed, the Six Nations Championship is not too far away from kick-off and combine that with all the club competitions, there is a lot to look forward to next year. So which players can we…

Argentina beat New Zealand for first time ever Nicolas Sanchez scored all Argentina's points as they beat New Zealand 25-15 at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney - their first-ever victory over the the All Blacks. The Argentina fly-half slotted six penalties and converted his own first-half try as the Pumas defied the odds to seal a historic win in…

Here are the latest rugby headlines for Tuesday, July 5. Jamie Roberts has rubbished the narrative that Wales have missed their best chance of beating South Africa, and believes they can be even better in Bloemfontein this weekend. Wales lost agonisingly in the dying minutes in Pretoria last weekend, but Roberts saw enough to be encouraged heading…

The All Blacks have been the dominant team of world rugby yet again in 2012. With their season having drawn to a close, it's now time to rate each players performance. Israel Dagg: 7.5/10 Dagg looked dangerous every time he touched the ball, was lethal on the counterattack and very good under the high ball. He was also outstanding in clearing the…

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…

All Blacks Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith weighed in ahead of their trip to South Africa.Video / Carson Bluck Caleb Clarke will return for the All Blacks this weekend, taking his place on the wing for the first test against the Springboks at Mbombela Stadium. For their first test in South Africa since 2018, the All Blacks have named a few…

IRELAND have secured their first ever win in New Zealand as they overcame a 14-man All Blacks side. Andrew Porter scored an early try for the Irish and their chances have now dramatically improved after Angus Ta'avao was given a red card for a head-on-head collision. Beauden Barrett then scored on the stroke of half time to get the All Blacks back…

So what then are we to make of rugby's new world order? The northern powerhouse that swept aside its southern rivals over the course of an extraordinary Saturday has challenged some preconceived notions. Ireland celebrate their second Test win over New Zealand at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) An unprecedented…

After two makeshift seasons, Super Rugby is about to get a whole more super as the competition moves to a full-fledged Pacific competition. Making it all the more appealing for fans - and administrators - is that the competition's future will be announced Friday, with the competition to be set in stone until 2030. That will be music to the ears of…

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…

The four nations of the clunkily named Rugby Championship do battle after dodgy July series. Argentina nipped a depleted Scotland at the last moment. South Africa laboured to a brutal win over a limited, dour Wales. Australia was overpowered by England after a hopeful first Test. New Zealand lost every facet of their series against Ireland. With…

AUSTRALIA and New Zealand are set to add another chapter to their fierce rivalry this Thursday with some Bledisloe Cup action. Rugby fans are used to seeing the All Blacks dominate this prestigious tournament as they have won 49 of a possible 62 series played. But some poor performances from New Zealand has seen the title race been blown wide open…

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…

Sevu Reece and the All Blacks defeated Japan in Tokyo a week ago Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's autumn international between Wales and New Zealand. Amazon Prime, 3.15pm Saturday New Zealand -11 2pts 10-11 general It's been a difficult year for New Zealand and the pressure is still on following last week's unconvincing win…

Ken Owens looks set to make a Wales return on Saturday after an 11-month injury battle that severely tested his mental and physical strength. The 35-year-old Scarlets hooker has not represented his country since a Six Nations Grand Slam clash against France early last year. A nerve issue in his back, which he suffered during Wales training two days…

WALES HOOKER KEN OWENS said he is ready to make his Test return against New Zealand this weekend after an 11-month injury battle that left him doubting he would make it back to the international stage. Owens has not played for Wales since a Six Nations Grand Slam clash against France early last year. The 35-year-old suffered a nerve issue in his…

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…

So the Rugby Championship has been run and won, and though it played out as tightly as anyone can remember through the first month or so, it finished as pundits of all persuasions probably expected. But before we put the two-up panel in the rack for a month - we'll be back in time for the spring tour fixtures - the best way to wrap up the Rugby…

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…

The All Blacks selectors, Head Coach Ian Foster, Assistant Head Coach John Plumtree and former All Black Grant Fox, have named their squad for the 2021 edition of the Rugby Championship. The 36-strong squad is as follows: (Age, Sky Super Rugby club, provincial union and Test caps in brackets.

FULL TIME: Ireland 23 New Zealand 12 A historic day for Irish rugby. Ireland deserved winners as Ta'avao's red card proved costly for the All Blacks. Big heroes across the pitch from Peter O'Mahony to Tadhg Beirne, to two-try hero Andrew Porter. The scoreline could have been more as they executed their game plan perfectly. Read Gerry Thornley's…

We were treated to a stunning spectacle of rugby last weekend which saw all four Southern Hemisphere nations take the chocolates, while France was the only team from up north to collect a win. With several series on the line can England, Ireland or Wales fight their way to victory in Game 2? Read on for all the line-ups and key team news as it…

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…

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has reportedly been told by New Zealand Rugby bosses that he is expected to resign should (and when) New Zealand lose again to the Springboks on Saturday. The All Blacks are in the midst of a horror run of results and have lost their aura of invincibility. They are also down in fifth place in the World Rugby…

New Zealand could not cope with the precision and accuracy of Ireland's phase-play Clearly, courage is a fairly valuable attribute in rugby union. But, to cite Commodus, the villain of Ridley Scott's epic film'Gladiator', played wonderfully by Joaquin Phoenix, there are many forms of courage. The C-word was obviously an in-house theme of Ireland's…