All Blacks Named To Face USA

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face USA in their test match at FedEx Field on Sunday morning 24th October, 8.30am. The side will be captained by Sam Whitelock who missed the Rugby Championship series in Australia due to the birth of his child, and Sam Cane also returns in the reserves after being sidelined for much of the year with a pectoral muscle tear.  New All Black lock Josh Lord has been added to the reserves, as has hooker Dane Coles who has been out since August with a calf injury.

New Zealand All Blacks:

1.   Ethan de Groot
2.   Asafo Aumua
3.   Angus Ta’avao
4.   Samuel Whitelock (c)
5.   Tupou Vaa’i
6.   Luke Jacobson
7.   Dalton Papalii
8.   Hoskins Sotutu
9.   Finlay Christie
10. Richie Mo’unga 
11. George Bridge 
12. Quinn Tupaea
13. Braydon Ennor
14. Will Jordan 
15. Damian McKenzie 

Reserves:

16. Dane Coles 
17. George Bower
18. Tyrel Lomax 
19. Josh Lord
20. Sam Cane 
21. TJ Perenara 
22. Beauden Barrett 
23. Anton Lienert-Brown 

All Blacks Named To Face South Africa

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face South Africa in their Rugby Championship match in Townsville on Saturday night. 

In the forward pack, there are multiple changes with Nepo Laulala and Codie Taylor in at prop and hooker, Scott Barrett and Brodie Retallick paired at lock, Akira Ioane at blindside and Luke Jacobson at number eight, while prop Joe Moody and captain Ardie Savea are the only ones retained from last week.

In the backs, Jordie Barrett retains his place at fullback, with brother Beauden in at first five, and Rieko Ioane in paired with David Havili in the centres with Anton Liernert Brown out with a hamstring strain.

New Zealand All Blacks: 

Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, David Havili, George Bridge, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Luke Jacobson, Ardie Savea (c), Akira Ioane, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. 

Reserves: 

Samisoni Taukei’aho, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ethan Blackadder, Brad Weber, Damian McKenzie, Quinn Tupaea.

All Blacks Named For Second Argentina Match

All Black coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Argentina in their second Rugby Championship match at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Saturday 18th September at 10.05 NZT.

In the forwards, Joe Moody starts in place of Tu’inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax in place of Laulala, Patrick Tuipulotu and Tupou Vaa'i in place of Retallick and Barrett, and Ethan Blackadder, Hoskins Sotutu and Ardie Savea in place of Papalii, Jacobson and Ioane.

In the backs McKenzie moves to first five in place of Barrett, Quinn Tupaea replaces Havili, and Will Jordan replace Sevu Reece on the right wing.

All Backs Team:

1.          Joe Moody

2.          Samisoni Taukei’aho
3.          Tyrel Lomax
4.          Patrick Tuipulotu
5.          Tupou Vaa’i
6.          Ethan Blackadder
7.          Ardie Savea (c)
8.          Hoskins Sotutu
9.          TJ Perenara
10.        Damian McKenzie
11.        George Bridge 
12.        Quinn Tupaea 
13.        Rieko Ioane 
14.        Will Jordan
15.        Jordie Barrett

Reserves: 

16.        Codie Taylor
17.        George Bower
18.        Ofa Tuungafasi 
19.        Scott Barrett
20.        Luke Jacobson
21.        Finlay Christie
22.        Beauden Barrett
23.        Braydon Ennor

All Blacks Named For Perth Bledisloe Cup Match

All Black coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Australia in Perth on Sunday 5th September at 6pm NZT for the third Bledisloe Cup match. The side features only one change to the forwards from Eden Park, with lock Scott Barrett replacing Sam Whitelock, who was one of the side not travelling to Perth for upcoming births. Ardie Savea will captain the side at number eight, with Ethan Blackadder and Tupou Vaa'i both coming onto the reserves bench. In the backs, Brad Weber starts at halfback, Beauden Barrett at first five, Anton Lienert-Brown at centre, Will Jordan on the right wing with Rieko Ioane shifting to the left, and Jordie Barrett at fullback. TJ Perenara is in the reserves, as is Damian McKenzie and George Bridge.

New Zealand All Blacks:

1. George Bower 
2. Codie Taylor
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Scott Barrett 
6. Akira Ioane 
7. Dalton Papalii 
8. Ardie Savea (c)
9. Brad Weber
10. Beauden Barrett 
11. Rieko Ioane 
12. David Havili 
13. Anton Lienert-Brown 
14. Will Jordan
15. Jordie Barrett 

Reserves:
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho 
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe 
18. Angus Ta’avao 
19. Tupou Vaa’i 
20. Ethan Blackadder 
21. TJ Perenara 
22. Damian McKenzie
23. George Bridge

All Blacks Named For Rugby Championship Tour In Australia

All Black coach Ian Foster has named an initial 35-man squad for the Australian Rugby Championship Series and Northern Hemisphere Tour. Missing from the squad is lock Sam Whitelock, halfback Aaron Smith and first-five Richie Mo’unga, with all of them expecting the birth of children in the near future. The All Blacks will play a combined 10 tests in 12 weeks, with confirmation of the third Bledisloe Cup match to be played in Perth on Sunday 5th September at 6pm NZT.

All Blacks Squad:

Forwards: 

Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor. Props: George Bower, Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Angus Ta’avao, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi. Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i. Loose forwards: Ethan Blackadder, Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu.

Backs: 

Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber. First five–eighths: Beauden Barrett. Midfielders: Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea. Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie, Sevu Reece.

All Blacks Win Final Match Of 2020

 The All Blacks have beaten Argentina 38-0 in Newcastle on Saturday night, reversing the loss they suffered two weeks ago. It was a committed forward pack that set the stage for the win, and forced multiple errors and missed tackles onto Argentina. Hooker Dane Coles scored the opening try out wide in the 12th minute, and Richie Mo'unga added a penalty for a first half 10-0 lead.

Midway through the second half the All Blacks led 17-0 after Ardie Savea scored off a lineout drive, but it was the addition of replacement back Will Jordan that opened the game right up. Jordan scored a try off a spilled Argentina ball, and two minutes later was in again off an intercept for a 60m dash. The final act of the game saw replacement lock Patrick Tuipulotu score in the 81st minute with Jordan again involved.

New Zealand: 38 

Tries: Dane Coles, Ardie Savea, Will Jordan 2, Patrick Tuipulotu, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga 5, Penalty: Mo'unga

Argentina: 0 

All Blacks Lose To Argentina In Sydney

The All Blacks have lost to the Argentinian Puma's for the first time in an upset 25-25 loss at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney. The Puma's were combative in forward exchanges and forced multiple errors and penalties upon the All Blacks, leading to a 16-3 halftime lead, which they were unable to bridge in the second half.

Pablo Matera the Puma's captain had an outstanding match, and helped his side to a 62-42 advantage in the rucks won, while first five Sanchez scored all their points with a try, conversion and six penalties.

New Zealand All Blacks: 15 

Tries: Sam Cane, Caleb Clarke, Conversion: Richie Mo'unga, Penalty: Mo'unga,

Argentina: 25 

Try: Nicolas Sanchez, Conversion: Sanchez, Penalties: Sanchez 6

All Blacks Named To Face Australia In Third Bledisloe.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Australia in the third Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney on Saturday. Hoskins Sotutu will debut at number eight in place of Ardie Savea who stayed behind in New Zealand on paternity leave, and loose forward Dalton Papalii is brought in the reserves. Other changes in the forwards see Sam Whitelock return from from concussion in place of Tupou Vaa’i, and Karl Tu'inukuafe replaces Joe Moody at loosehead prop. In the reserves, Ngani Laumape returns from a broken arm earlier in the year in place of Damian McKenzie.

New Zealand All Blacks: 

1.  Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2.  Dane Coles, 3.  Ofa Tuungafasi, 4.  Patrick Tuipulotu, 5.  Samuel Whitelock, 6.  Shannon Frizell, 7.  Sam Cane (c), 8.  Hoskins Sotutu, 9.  Aaron Smith, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jack Goodhue, 13.  Anton Lienert-Brown, 14.  Jordie Barrett, 15.  Beauden Barrett 

Reserves: 

16.  Codie Taylor, 17.  Alex Hodgman, 18.  Tyrel Lomax, 19.  Scott Barrett, 20.  Dalton Papalii, 21.  TJ Perenara, 22.  Ngani Laumape, 23.  Rieko Ioane

The Australian Wallabies side has four debutants in their side, with both first five James O'Connor, and second five Matt Toomua out with injury, replaced by Noah Lolesio, and Irae Simones, and halfback Tate McDermott and loose forward Fraser McReight in the reserves. Other changes see Allan Alaalatoa starting at tight-head prop in place of Taniela Tupou, Jordan Petaia at centre in place of Hunter Paisami, and Dane Haylett-Petty in at fullback in place of Tom Banks for his first match since the Rugby World Cup.

Australia:

1. James Slipper, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5. Matt Philip, 6. Ned Hanigan, 7. Michael Hooper (c), 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Nic White, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Jordan Petaia, 14. Filipo Daugunu, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty

Reserves:  

16. Jordan Uelese, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Rob Simmons, 20. Fraser McReight, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Reece Hodge, 23. Hunter Paisami 

All Black's 2020 Rugby Championship Draw Re-Scheduled

The All Blacks will be home for Christmas after SANZAAR announced a revised draw for the 2020 Rugby Championship in Australia. The match between the All Blacks and Australia scheduled for December 12th has been moved to October 31st. NZ Rugby had disputed the draw when it was first announced by SANZAAR saying they had not agreed to play the match so late in December, due to the New Zealand government's 14 day quarantine requirement on returning home.

The updated timing of matches is below.

Bledisloe Cup New Zealand 2020.

New Zealand v Australia, Sky Stadium, Wellington, Sunday 11 October, 4pm NZT.

New Zealand v Australia, Eden Park, Auckland, Sunday 18 October, 4 NZT.

Rugby Championship Australia 2020.

New Zealand vs Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, October 31, 9:45pm NZT

New Zealand vs Australia, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, November 7, 9.45pm NZT

New Zealand vs Argentina, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, November 14, 7pm NZT

New Zealand vs South Africa, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, November 21, 7pm NZT

New Zealand vs South Africa, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, November 28, 9.45pm NZT

New Zealand v Argentina, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, December 5, 7pm NZT

North v South Game To Have No Spectators.

This Saturdays North v South rugby match has been confirmed to be played without any spectators due to the current Level 2 Covid alert.

The match, the first since 2012, has been transferred from Auckland's Eden Park to Wellington's Sky Stadium (Cake Tin) starting at 7.10pm, and precede's coach Ian Foster naming his first All Blacks squad on Sunday.

The North team is coached by John Plumtree, and the South by Brad Mooar.

NORTH: 

Forwards: 1. Karl Tu’inukuafe 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Ofa Tuungafasi, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Akira Ioane, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Hoskins Sotutu. 

Backs: 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Anton Lienert-Brown, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Damian McKenzie.

Replacements: 16. Ash Dixon, 17. Ayden Johnstone, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Scott Scrafton, 20. Dalton Papalii, 21. Aaron Smith, 22. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23. Mitchell Hunt.

SOUTH: 

Forwards: 1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Samuel Whitelock (captain), 5. Mitchell Dunshea, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Tom Sanders. 

Backs: 9. Brad Weber, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. Jack Goodhue, 13. Brayden Ennor, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Jordie Barrett.

Replacements: 16. Liam Coltman, 17. George Bower, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20. Dillon Hunt, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Josh Ioane, 23. Leicester Fainga’anuku.

The current playing options for the All Blacks are a proposed November - December Rugby Championship with South Africa, Australia and Argentina awaiting government approval on quarantine, and Bledisloe Cup matches in either Australia or New Zealand with ongoing discussion. 

The covid level restrictions will also have an impact on the Farah Palmer Cup women’s rugby competition which starts this Saturday, with crowds also unable to view matches. Waikato will play Northland on Saturday 12.30pm at Waikato University in Hamilton, Counties Manukau play North Harbour at Navigation Homes Stadium Pukekohe at 2.35pm, and Auckland play Taranaki on Sunday at 12pm at TET Stadium Inglewood. 

The Mitre 10 Cup, first round which start's Friday 11th September will also have no spectators. First round matches see North Harbour hosting Canterbury at North Harbour Stadium 7.05pm, Waikato versus Wellington in Hamilton on Saturday 2.05pm, Otago versus Auckland in Dunedin 4.35pm, Counties Manukau versus Tasman in Pukekohe 7.05pm, and on Sunday Northland v Manawatu in Whangarei at 2.05pm, Taranaki versus Bay of Plenty in Inglewood at 2.05pm and Southland v Hawke’s Bay in Invercargill at 4.35pm.

Ian Foster Named New All Blacks Coach

New Zealand Rugby chairman Brent Impey has announced the appointment of Ian Foster as new coach of the All Blacks for the next two years.
He will be joined by a further four coaching staff who will be announced in the near future.

As well as being an assistant coach of the All Blacks for the last eight years, Foster has also coached the Junior All Blacks from 2005-07, and the Chiefs Super Rugby team from 2004-11

The appointment panel for the Head Coach position was made up of Impey,  new NZR CEO Mark Robinson, NZR Head of High Performance Mike Anthony, former All Blacks Head Coach and NZR Life Member Sir Graham Henry, and former Silver Ferns Coach and High Performance Sport New Zealand director Waimarama Taumaunu.