All Blacks Win Against Argentina

The All Blacks have opened the Rugby Championship with a 41-12 win against Argentina in Mendoza. They led 31-0 at half time after scoring five first half tries, while winger Emoni Narawa also scored a late try on debut.

New Zealand: 41

Tries: Dane Coles, Ardie Savea, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Emoni Narawa, Conversions: Damian McKenzie 3

Argentina: 12

Tries: Lucio Sordoni, Agustin Creevy, Conversion: Emiliano Boffelli

In the other weekend match the All Blacks XV beat Japan 38-6 in Tokyo

All Blacks XV: 38

Tries: Jack Goodhue, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Alex Nankivell, Folau Fakatava, Stephen Perofeta, Conversions: Perofeta, Brett Cameron, Penalties: Perofeta 3

Japan XV: 6

Penalties: Rikiya Matsuda 2

All Blacks XV Named To Face Japan

All Blacks XV coach Leon McDonald has named his side to face a Japan XV at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday 8 July, with a kick-off at 8.00pm New Zealand time.

New Zealand XV:

1: Xavier Numia, 2: Ricky Riccitelli, 3: Jermaine Ainsley, 4: Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5: Quinten Strange, 6: Akira Ioane, 7: Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8: Christian Lio-Willie, 9: Brad Weber (co-C), 10: Stephen Perofeta, 11: Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12: Jack Goodhue, 13: Alex Nankivell, 14: Bailyn Sullivan, 15: Ruben Love

Reserves: 

Tyrone Thompson, Ollie Norris, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Cameron Suafoa, Billy Harmon (co-C), Folau Fakatava, Brett Cameron, Sam Gilbert

All Blacks Named To Face Argentina

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Argentina in Mendoza on Sunday morning 7.10am. There is one debutant in the side, with Chiefs winger Emoni Narawa starting on the wing, while Damian McKenzine get the start at first five, with Beauden Barrett at fullback.

New Zealand All Blacks:

1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Josh Lord, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Beauden Barrett

Reserves:  

16. Codie Taylor, 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18. Nepo Laulala, 19. Tupou Vaa’i, 20. Dalton Papali’i, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Richie Mo’unga, 23. Braydon Ennor

Argentina:

15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Lucio Cinti, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Lucio Sordoni, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo.

Reserves: 

16 Augustin Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Pedro Rubiolo, 20 Sanriago Grondona, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Nicolas Sanchez, 23 Matias Orlando.

Crusaders Win Super Rugby Final For Seventh Time.

The Crusaders have won their seventh Super Rugby title after a 25-20 win over the Chiefs.

Crusaders: 25

Tries: Codie Taylor 2, Richie Mo'unga, Conversions: Mo'unga 2, Penalties: Mo'unga 2

Chiefs: 20

Tries: Shaun Stevenson, Emoni Narawa, Conversions: Damian McKenzie 2, Penalties: McKenzie 2

All Blacks And All Blacks XV Sides Named

All Black selectors Ian Foster, Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt have named their squad to contest the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship.

There were many players unavailable, with Angus Ta’avao, Ethan Blackadder, Cullen Grace, David Havili, Joe Moody, George Bower, Patrick Tuipulotu, Quinn Tupaea, Sevu Reece, TJ Perenara out with injury, while Chiefs winger Shaun Stevenson has been added for injury cover to Mark Talea for the early parts of the Championship

Hookers:
Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei’aho 

Props:
Ethan de Groot, Fletcher Newell, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax 

Locks:
Brodie Retallick, Josh Lord, Samuel Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i 

Loose forwards:
Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali’i, Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane (c), Samipeni Finau, Shannon Frizell 

Halfbacks:
Aaron Smith, Finlay Christie, Cam Roigard, 

First-five eighths:
Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga 

Midfielders:
Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod 

Outside backs:
Caleb Clarke, Emoni Narawa, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Mark Telea, Will Jordan 

Week 1 vs. Argentina, Saturday 8 July, 4:10pm (7:10am, Sunday 9 July NZT), Estadio Malvinas, Mendoza

Week 2 vs. South Africa, Saturday 15 July, 7.05pm, Go Media Stadium Mt Smart, Auckland

Week 3 vs. Australia, Saturday 29 July, 7.45PM (9:45pm NZT), Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Week 4 v Australia, Saturday 5 August, 2.35PM, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

The All Blacks XV was also named to play two matches in Japan, with Leon MacDonald as head coach and assisted by Clayton McMillan and Scott Hansen.

Props
Jermaine Ainsley, Oli Jager, Tevita Mafileo, Xavier Numia, Aidan Ross

Hookers
Asafo Aumua, Ricky Riccitelli, Tyrone Thompson

Locks
Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Quinten Strange, Isaia Walker-Leawere

Loose Forwards
Billy Harmon, Akira Ioane, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Christian Lio-Willie, Pita Gus Sowakula, Cameron Suafoa 

Halfbacks
Folau Fakatava, Brad Weber 

First-five-eighths
Brett Cameron, Stephen Perofeta 

Midfielders
Jack Goodhue, Alex Nankivell, Billy Proctor, Bailyn Sullivan 

Outside Backs
Sam Gilbert, AJ Lam, Ruben Love, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Jona Nareki 

Saturday 8 July, Japan XV v All Blacks XV, 8.00pm, Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo

Saturday 15 July, Brave Blossoms v All Blacks XV, 9.05pm  Egao Kenko Stadiu, Kumamoto

Chiefs And Crusaders Named For Super Rugby Final

Both the Chiefs and Crusaders sides have been named to face off in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific Final at Hamilton's FMG Stadium on Saturday 24th June, 7.05pm.

In the only changes to the side that beat the Blues 52-15 last week, the Crusaders have All Black lock Sam Whitelock returning from an achilles tendon injury, while hooker George Bell is back from a fractured ankle in place of Brodie McAlister who injured his hamstring last week.

After a tough semi-final match against the Brumbies, the Chiefs have Pita Gus-Sowakula back in the starting side at blindside in place of new All Black Samipeni Finau and hope to send off several players heading overseas with a win in a match that will also see Sam Cane play his 150th match for the side.

Chiefs: Shaun Stevenson, Emoni Narawa, Alex Nankivell, Anton Lienert-Brown, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber, Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane, Pita Gus Sowakula, Tupou Vaa'i, Brodie Retallick, George Dyer, Samisoni Taukeiáho, Aidan Ross

Reserves: Tyrone Thompson, Ollie Norris, John Ryan, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Josh Ioane, Rameka Pohipi 

Crusaders: Will Jordan, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Mitch Drummond, Christian Lio-Willie, Tom Christie, Sione Havili Talitui, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett (capt), Oli Jager, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams

Reserves: George Bell, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Reuben O’Neill, Quinten Strange, Dom Gardiner, Willi Heinz, Fergus Burke, Chay Fihaki.

Super Rugby Semi-Final Results

Crusaders: 52

Tries: Braydon Ennor, Leicester Fainga'anuku 2, Will Jordan, Codie Taylor, Fergus Burke, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga 5, Penalties: Mo'unga 4

Blues: 15

Tries: Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Conversion: Barrett, Penalty: Barrett

Chiefs: 19

Try: Brodie Retallick, Conversion: Damian McKenzie, Penalties: McKenzie 4

Brumbies: 6

Penalties: Noah Lolesio 2