All Blacks Named To Face Argentina

All Black coach Scott Robertson has named his side to face Argentina in Wellington on Saturday 7.05pm in their Rugby Championship opening match. With Scoot Barrett out injured, the side will be captained by number eight Ardie Savea, while TJ Perenara returns at halfback after being out with a leg injury, and Beauden Barrett starts at fullback.

1.    Ethan De Groot
2.    Codie Taylor (vc)
3.    Tyrel Lomax
4.    Tupou Vaa’i
5.    Sam Darry
6.    Ethan Blackadder
7.    Dalton Papali’i
8.    Ardie Savea (c)
9.    TJ Perenara
10.  Damian McKenzie
11.  Mark Tele’a
12.  Jordie Barrett (vc)
13.  Anton Lienert-Brown
14.  Sevu Reece
15.  Beauden Barrett

16. Asafo Aumua
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Josh Lord
20. Wallace Sititi
21. Cortez Ratima
22. Rieko Ioane
23. Will Jordan

All Blacks Beat Fiji In San Diego

The All Blacks have made it three from three to start 2024 after beating Fiji 47-5 in San Diego. The All Blacks had made numerous changes to the side that last beat England, with halfback Cortez Ratima, hooker George Bell and centre Billy Proctor scoring tries. 

The All Blacks next match is against Argentina on Saturday 10th August in Wellington for the start of the Lepovitan-D Rugby Championship 

New Zealand: 47

Tries: Caleb Clarke, Cortez Ratima, Billy Proctor, Ardie Savea, Sevu Reece, Ethan de Groot, George Bell, Conversions: Damian McKenzie 6

Fiji: 5

Try: Vilimoni Botitu

All Blacks Named For First 2024 Test Against England

New All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has named his first side to face England this Saturday 7.05pm at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

Robertson has bought in TJ Perenara at halfback while Finlay Christie is in the reserves, with Stephen Perofeta at fullback ahead of Beauden Barrett who is also in the reserves. There is a strong look to the forwards with De Groot, Taylor and Lomax in the front row, and Tuipulotu joining captain Scott Barrett at lock. Luke Jacobson is in the reserves to cover loose forward, with Ethan Blackadder missing out on the match 23.

All Blacks:

1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Patrick Tuipulotu, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Dalton Papali’i, 8. Ardie Savea (vc), 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Damian McKenzie, 
11. Mark Tele’a, 12. Jordie Barrett (vc), 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Stephen Perofeta.

Reserves:

16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Tupou Vaa’i, 20. Luke Jacobson, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Beauden Barrett

Narrow Loss For All Blacks In Rugby World Cup Final

The All Blacks have suffered a narrow 12-11 loss to South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final. The biggest talking point from the match was the yellow card which was upgraded to red for captain Sam Cane after a 29th minute tackle resulted in a head clash, meaning he became the first person sent off in a Rugby World Cup final match. 

The third match official has been criticized for being inconsistent after South African captain Siya Kolisi was also yellow carded in the 46th minute for a similar tackle but it was not upgraded to red by the TMO. The All Blacks also lost flanker Shannon Frizell to a yellow card in only the third minute of the match after falling on the leg of a South African player in a tackle was deemed illegal.  

The All Blacks had several chances in the second half, with the TMO involved again by ruling out a Aaron Smith try after an earlier knock on, after referee Wayne Barnes had said play on. A missed conversion from the Beauden Barrett try and a late penalty shot were both wide which could have sealed a win.

The All Blacks will have new coach Scott Robertson replacing Ian Foster from this week, while they are also losing Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga and Shannon Frizell to overseas club's, while Dane Coles is retiring.

New Zealand All Blacks: 11 

Try: Beauden Barrett, Penalties: Richie Mo'unga 2 

South Africa: 12 

Penalties: Handre Pollard 4

All Blacks Through To RWC Semi-Final

The All Blacks have beaten Ireland 28-24 to progress to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals against Argentina on Saturday morning, 8.00am NZT.

The All Blacks had to overcome yellow cards to halfback Aaron Smith late in the first half, and hooker Codie Taylor midway through the second half as well as defend against a 37-phase passage on attack by Ireland in the final minutes of the match. Captain Sam Cane and number eight Ardie Savea were two key defenders for the All Blacks, while first five Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett had strong attacking games. 

New Zealand: 28

Tries: Leicester Fainga'anuku, Ardie Savea, Will Jordan, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga, Jordie Barrett, Penalties: Mo'unga, Jordie Barrett 2

Ireland: 24

Tries: Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park, Penalty try, Conversion: Jonny Sexton, Penalty: Sexton 

All Blacks Win Against Italy

In a match that was billed as a potential stumbling block to the Rugby World Cup quarter final seedings, the All Blacks have hammered Italy 96-17 in Lyon on Saturday. The All Blacks scored five tries in the first 25 minutes, and seven by half time leading 49-3. The second half saw Italy more competitive, with a try resulting in the All Blacks making multiple replacements. The All Blacks scored six second half tries, and saw lock Sam Whitelock break the All Blacks starts with 149 appearances.

New Zealand: 96

Tries: Will Jordan 2, Aaron Smith 3, Mark Tele'a, Ardie Savea 2, Brodie Retallick, Dalton Papali'i, Dane Coles 2, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga 9, McKenzie 4

Italy: 17

 Tries: Ange Capuozzo, Monty Ioane, Conversions: Tommaso Allan, Paolo Garbisi, Penalty: Allen

All Blacks Named To Face Australia For Second Bledisloe

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Australia in the second Bledisloe test in Auckland on Saturday night in Auckland.

Missing from this weeks match are both captain Sam Cane and second five David Havivli who both left the field after head knocks, as well as Quinn Tupaea who suffered a knee injury from which Australian player Darcy Swain has been suspended for six weeks. Scott Barrett is also unavailable and it see's this weeks loose forwards as Ardie Savea at number eight, Akira Ioane on the blindside and Dalton Papali'i at openside flanker, while hooker Codie Taylor starts and Samisoni Taukei'aho drops to the reserves.

Sam Whitelock will captain the side, with Jordie Barrett starting at second five, and brother Beauden at fullback. The reserves see lock Tupou Vaa'i, midfielder Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and outside back Sevu Reece added as cover.

New Zealand All Blacks:

1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. Akira Ioane, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Beauden Barrett

Reserves:

16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18. Nepo Laulala, 19. Tupou Vaa'i, 20. Hoskins Sotutu, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 23. Sevu Reece