Australia And South Africa Get Wins

Australia have beaten England 30-28 in Perth, whist playing the last 46 minutes of the match with 14 men. Lock Darcy Swain was sent off after head-butting Jonny Hill for retaliating for having his hair pulled. Australia had gone to the break at 6-6 after loosing fullback Tom Banks with a broken arm and prop Alan Alaalatoa to a head injury. Australia was behind 14-9 after 60 minutes, but two tries in seven minutes to Jordan Petaia and Folau Fainga’a put them ahead, and when Pete Samu added a third in the 77th minute the game was over at 30-14. England then ran in late tries to Henry Arundell and Jack van Poortvliet in injury time. 

Australia: 30

Tries: Jordan Petaia, Folau Fainga'a, Pete Samu, Conversions: Noah Lolesio 3, Penalties: Lolesio 3

England: 28

Tries: Ellis Genge, Henry Arundell, Jack van Poortlviet, Conversions: Owen Farrell 2, Penalties: Farrell 3

South Africa have kicked a penalty goal in injury time to win 32-29 against Wales at Loftus Versfeld. It was a controversial ending to the match in which captain Dan Biggar was penalised for an intentional knock-on, and Wales had four players yellow carded. At one stage late in the match Wales were down to 12 players and had a 75th minute penalty try awarded against them, only for replacement hooker Dewi Lake to hit back with a try for Wales to tie the match. 

South Africa: 32

Tries: Bongi Mbonambi, Malcolm Marx, Cheslin Kolbe, Penalty Try,  Conversions: Willemse 2 Penalties: Jantjies, Willemse

Wales: 29

Tries: Rees-Zammit 2, Dewi Lake, Conversion: Dan Biggar, Penalties: Biggar 3, Drop-Goal: Biggar

All Blacks Win First Test Against Ireland

The All Blacks have beaten Ireland 42-19 in their first test at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday night.

As was expected, it was a tough physical match early on, with the Irish getting the first try in the 5th minute to winger Keith Earls. The All Blacks did not help themselves with handling errors, but got on the board in the 20th minute with a try to Jordie Barrett, and again the the 29th minute when Sevu Reece picked up a loose ball to run 75 metres untouched. Second five Quinn Tupaea added the third try off a Beauden Barrett grubber kick, and Ardie Savea pounced on a loose ball in the Irish goal to see the All Blacks go to half time with four tries and a 28-5 lead.

The Irish struck back early in the second half with a try to centre Garry Ringrose to reduce the margin to 28-12, but Ardie Savea then struck back for the All Blacks with his second. The Irish held a territorial and possession advantage for the match, but handling errors saw the ball lost over the line twice when scoring, and strong defense and scrummaging from the All Blacks proved the difference.

New Zealand All Blacks: 42  

Tries: Jordie Barrett, Sevu Reece, Quinn Tupaea, Ardie Savea 2, Pita Gus Sowakula, Conversions: J Barrett 6 

Ireland: 19 

Tries: Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Conversions: Joey Carberry 2 

All Blacks Named To Face Ireland In First Test

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Ireland in their first test at Eden park on Saturday night. Covid has hit the All Black camp this week, with Foster, assistant coaches John Plumtree, Scott McLeod and Greg Feek, mid-fielders David Havili and Jack Goodhue, and outside back Will Jordan all testing positive for Covid.

Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga’anuku will debut on the wing, with Scott Barrett named at blindside flanker, and Beauden Barrett at first five with Richie Mo'unga on the bench.

NZ All Blacks:

1. George Bower, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. Scott Barrett, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Jordie Barrett

Reserves: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Angus Ta'avao, Pita Gus Sowakula, Dalton Papalii, Finlay Christie, Richie Mo'unga, Braydon Ennor

NZ Maori Beat Ireland

New Zealand Maori have beaten Ireland 32-17 in Hamilton on Wednesday night in the first match for the touring side. The home side led 32-10 at halftime, playing an attacking game in wet, drizzly conditions, with tries to backs fullback Zarn Sullivan, wing Shaun Stevenson, halfback Brad Weber, and number eight Cullen Grace. Ireland came back in the second half, playing more competitively scoring the only try. Ireland will now face the All Blacks on Saturday night at Eden Park for the first test.

Māori All Blacks: 32

Tries: Zarn Sullivan, Shaun Stevenson, Brad Weber, Cullen Grace, Conversions: Josh Ioane 3, Penalties: Ioane 2

Ireland: 17

Tries: Bundee Aki, Gavin Coombes, Conversions: Ciaran Frawley 2, Penalty: Frawley

NZ Maori And Ireland Sides Named For First Match

New Zealand Maori coach Clayton McMillan has named his side to face Ireland at FMG Stadium Waikato, 7.05pm on Wednesday 29th June. The match is the first between the sides since 2010 where the Maori won 31-28.

Māori All Blacks: 
1. Ollie Norris 2. Kurt Eklund 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. Josh Dickson 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere 6. Cameron Suafoa 7. Billy Harmon 8. Cullen Grace 9. Brad Weber (co-c) 10. Josh Ioane 11. Connor Garden-Bachop 12. Rameka Poihipi 13. Billy Proctor 14. Shaun Stevenson 15. Zarn Sullivan

Reserves: 16. Tyrone Thompson 17. Tamaiti Williams 18. Jermaine Ainsley 19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit 20. TK Howden 21. TJ Perenara (co-c) 22. Ruben Love 23. Bailyn Sullivan

 
Ireland: 
1. Jeremy Loughman 2. Dave Heffernan 3. Tom O’Toole 4. Kieran Treadwell 5. Joe McCarthy 6. Cian Prendergast 7. Nick Timoney 8. Gavin Coombes 9. Craig Casey 10. Ciaran Frawley 11. Keith Earls 12. Bundee Aki (c) 13. Jamie Hume 14. Jordan Larmour 15. Jimmy O’Brien

Reserves: 16. Niall Scannell 17. Cian Healy 18. Finlay Bealham 19. Ryan Baird 20. Jack Conan 21. Conor Murray 22. Joey Carbery 23. Michael Lowry

Black Ferns Win Pacific Four Series

The Black Ferns have beaten the USA Eagles 50-6 in Whangarei on Saturday to win the Pacific Four Series. In a match played in wet conditions, the Black Ferns scored eight tries, with wing Ayesha Leti-I’iga scoring a hat-trick.  

In the earlier match Canada had beaten the Australian Wallaroo's 22-10

New Zealand Black Ferns: 50 

Tries: Ayesha Leti-I’iga 3, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Renee Holmes, Sylvia Brunt, Kendra Reynolds, Renee Wickliffe, Conversions: Hazel Tubic 3, Ruahei Demant, Renee Holmes 

USA Eagles: 6

Penalties: Megan Foster 2 

Crusaders Win 2022 Super Rugby Final

The Crusaders have beaten the Blues 21-7 in Auckland on Saturday night to win the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific title. The Crusaders had led 13-0 at half time on the back of superior defense and forced mistakes. The Crusaders had won nine lineout steals in the match, with six in the first half, and forced the Blues to make 216 tackles in the match to the Crusaders 141.

Crusaders: 21

Tries: Bryn Hall, Sevu Reece, Conversion: Richie Mo’unga. Penalty: Mo’unga 2, Drop goal: Mo’unga

Blues: 7 

Try: Finlay Christie, Conversion: Stephen Perofeta