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