The All Blacks have lost their opening match at the Rugby World Cup to host France 29-13. The All Blacks had opened the scoring with a try inside the opening minutes to wing Mark Talea, but trailed 9-8 at halftime. The second half saw the All Blacks concede multiple penalties with a final count 12-4 , and had Will Jordan sin-binned for a challenge in the air. Captain Sam Cane was scratched before the game due to a back injury, and this saw Tupou Vaa’i came in at blindside flanker, Dalton Papalii switch to the openside, and Brodie Retallick come into the reserves.

Tasman flanker Ethan Blackadder has been called into the squad as injury cover, and has replaced winger Emoni Narawa who is returning home with a back injury

New Zealand: 13 

Tries: Mark Telea 2, Penalty: Richie Mo'unga pen). HT: 9-8

France: 29 

Tries: Damian Penaud, Melvyn Jaminet tries; Thomas Ramos con, 5 pen)

Farah Palmer Cup Semi-Final Results

Auckland: 29 

Tries: Maama Vaipulu 2, Angelica Vahai, Ruahei Demant, Conversions: Ruahei Demant 3, Penalty: Demant 

Waikato: 22 

Tries: Carla Hohepa, Victoria Makea, Ashlee Gaby-Sutherland, Conversions: Kiriana Nolan, Ariana Bayler, Penalty: Bayler

Canterbury: 59 

Tries: Holly Wratt-Groeneweg 3, Martha Mataele 2, Pip Love, Grace Steinmetz, Amy Du Plessis, Amy Rule, Conversions: Rosie Kelly 7, Hannah King

Hawke’s Bay: 29 

Tries: Nicolette Adamson 2, Tee Aiolupotea, Denise Aiolupotea, Jade Tangaere-Tahua, Conversions: Krysten Cottrell 2

Northland: 29 

Tries: Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate 2, Hikitia Wikaira, Ocean Tierney, Conversions: Pohutukawa Kakara 2, Krystal Murray, Penalty: Murray 

Otago: 19 

Tries: Oceana Campbell, Maia Joseph, Jamie Church, Conversions: Jospeh, Georgia Cormick

Manawatū: 73 

Tries: Marilyn Live, Rangimarie Sturmey 2, Jashana Teuawiri 2, Layla Sae, Selica Winiata, Sosoli Talawadua, Taufa Bason, Caitlin Burt-Poloai, Paige Lush, Conversions: Winiata 9

Tasman:10 

Try: Cassie Siataga, Conversion: Siataga, Penalty: Siataga

Farah Palmer Cup Premiership Final

Canterbury v Auckland Storm, Christchurch Rugby Park, 9 September 2.05pm

Farah Palmer Cup Championship Final

Manawatu Cyclones v Northland, Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North, 10 September, 5.05pm

Farah Palmer Cup Week Six Results

Canterbury: 27 

Tries: Georgia Ponsonby 2, Martha Mataele 2, Conversions: Hannah King 2, Penalty: King 

Auckland: 24 

Tries: Chryss Viliko 2, Sylvia Brunt, Conversions: Ruahei Demant 2, Penalty: Demant 

Otago: 39 

Tries: Jamie Church 3, Sheree Hume 2, Cheyenne Cunningham, Leah Miles, Conversions: Georgia Cormick 2

North Harbour: 13 

Try: Moana Courtenay, Conversion: Grace Freeman, Penalties: Freeman 2

Counties Manukau: 63 

Tries: Mererangi Paul 3, Ruby Tui 2, Joanna Fanene-Lolo, Grace Gago, Jaymie Kolose, Utumalama Antonio, Ngatokutoru Arakua, Ti Tauasosi, Conversions: Hazel Tubic 4

Hawke’s Bay: 26 

Tries: Tamai Edwards, Nicolette Adamson, Jamiee Robin, Kahlia Awa, Ti Tauasosi, Conversions: Krysten Cottrell 3

Tasman: 45 

Tries: Iva Sauvira 2, Fiaalii Solomona, Neve Anglesey, Tamara Silcock, Avau Filimaua, Conversions: Cassie Siataga 5

Taranaki: 20 

Tries: Hannah McLean, Janelle Dhedadig, Louise Blyde, Conversion: Laura Claridge, Penalty: Claridge

Waikato: 31

Tries: Ashlee Gaby-Sutherland, Carla Hohepa, Lela Ieremia, Kennedy Simon, Leata Puni Lio, Conversions: Ariana Bayler 2, Sammie Wood

Wellington Pride: 29 

Tries: Harmony Kautai 3, Lavinia Lea, Monica Tagoai, Conversions: Tamara Ruaporo 2

All Blacks Named For Rugby World Cup Opener

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face France in the Rugby World Cup opening match against host France on Saturday 9th September, 7.15am NZT.

There are four changes to the starting side that lost the final warm up match to South Africa at Twickenham. Jordie Barrett has been unable to train this week with a knee injury, and has been replaced at second five by Anton Lienert-Brown, Tyrel Lomax who cut his knee in the South African match requiring multiple stitches has been replaced by Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, replaces Dane Coles at hooker and Dalton Papalii replaces Luke Jacobson at blindside flanker.

New Zealand All Blacks: 

Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Telea, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (c), Dalton Papalii, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. 

Reserves: 

Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tuungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, Finlay Christie, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku.

France:

Réda Wardi, Julien Marchand, Uini Atonio, Cameron Woki, Thibaud Flament, François Cros, Charles Ollivon, Grégory Alldritt, Antoine Dupont (c), Matthieu Jalibert, Gabin Villière, Yoram Moefana, Gaël Fickou, Damian Penaud, Thomas Ramos

Reserves:

Peato Mauvaka, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Paul Boudehent, Maxime Lucu, Arthur Vincent, Melvyn Jaminet.

All Blacks Lose To South Africa

The All Blacks have not had the best dress rehearsal for the Rugby World Cup with a 35-7 loss to South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday. They conceded five tries to one, and had lock Scott Barrett sent off in the first half after getting two yellow cards. Playing with 14 men for the remainder of the match, coach Ian Foster was forced to bring on replacement lock Tupou Vaai' in place of blindside Luke Jacobson to compete in the lineouts. The All Blacks also lost prop Tyrel Lomax to a leg cut early in the match that needed 30 stitches, putting him in doubt for the RWC opening match against France. Any possible suspension of Barrett would put pressure on the All Blacks with Brodie Retallick still out several weeks with his knee injury from the Dunedin test.

New Zealand All Blacks: 7

Try: Cam Roigard, Conversion: Richie Mo'unga

South Africa: 35

Tries: Siya Kolisi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Kwagga Smith, Conversions: Manie Libbok 5

All Blacks Named To Face South Africa At Twickenham

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named a strong side to face South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday morning in their final match before the Rugby World Cup. Foster has named Luke Jacobson at blindside with Shannon Frizell out injured, and also halfback Cam Roigard on the reserves bench.

All Blacks: 

Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Telea, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (ct), Luke Jacobson, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Tyrel Lomax, Dane Coles, Ethan de Groot. 

Reserves: 

Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Dalton Papalii, Cam Roidard, Anton Lienert-Brown

All Blacks Squad Named For Rugby World Cup

In Napier on Monday, All Black selectors Ian Foster, Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt have revealed their 33-man squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

The squad has an 18 forwards and 15 backs split, totaling three hookers, six props, four locks, five loose forwards, three halfbacks, three first five-eighths, four midfielders and five outside backs. Foster has also named Samipeni Finau, Brad Weber and George Bell as an injury cover set of players to travel to France, but train away from the squad.

The All Blacks next match is a warm up test against South Africa at Twickenham on 26th August, ahead of their opening match against France at the Rugby World Cup on 8th September.

Forwards:

Hookers:

Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor

Props:

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

Locks:

Scott Barrett 
Brodie Retallick 
Tupou Vaa’i 
Samuel Whitelock 

Loose Forwards:

Sam Cane (c), Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea 

Backs:

Halfbacks:

Finlay Christie 
Cam Roigard 
Aaron Smith 


First Five-Eighths:

Beauden Barrett 
Damian McKenzie
Richie Mo'unga

Midfielders:

Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown 


Outside Backs:

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