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 

All Blacks Win Second Bledisloe Cup Match

The All Blacks have beaten Australia 23-20 in Dunedin on Saturday after a late penalty from Richie Mo'unga. Trailing 17-3 at half time, the All Blacks struck back with tries from winger Shaun Stevenson and flanker Samipeni Finau in the second half, and put together a much better defensive effort. A knee injury to lock Brodie Retallick in the first half forcing him from the field, was one of the biggest concerns ahead of the Rugby World Cup squad naming, giving coach Ian Foster plenty to worry over.

New Zealand All Blacks: 23

Tries: Shaun Stevenson, Samipeni Finau, Conversions: Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga, Penalties: McKenzie, Mo'unga 2

Australia: 20

Tries: Marika Koroibete, Tom Hooper, Conversions: Carter Gordon 2, Penalties: Gordon, Quade Cooper

All Blacks Named For Second Bledisloe Match

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side for the second Bledisloe Cup match at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday 2.35pm.

After beating Australia 38-7 last week in Melbourne, Foster has made several changes to the starting side, with captain Sam Cane returning from a neck injury suffered against Argentina, and wing Shaun Stevenson and flanker Samipeni Finau making their All Black debut's. In the backs, Will Jordan will start at fullback, Damian McKenzie is back at first five, and Leicester Fainga’anuku returns from injury on the other wing. In the forwards prop Tamaiti Williams gets his first start, while uncapped midfielder Dallas McLeod comes into the reserves.

New Zealand All Blacks: 

Will Jordan, Shaun Stevenson, Braydon Ennor, Anton Lienert-Brown, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Damian McKenzie, Finlay Christie, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (capt), Samipeni Finau, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams. 

Reserves: 

Dane Coles, Ofa Tuungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Dallas McLeod

Australian Wallabies: 

Andrew Kellaway, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jordan Petaia, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Carter Gordon, Tate McDermott (capt), Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Richie Arnold, Nick Frost, Pone Fa'amausili, David Porecki, Angus Bell. 

Reserves: 

Jordan Uelese, James Slipper, Zane Nonggorr, Will Skelton, Rob Leota, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Izaia Perese

All Blacks Named To Face Australia

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday night. In the only change to the previous South Africa test, number eight Ardie Savea will captain the side after Sam Cane was ruled out with a neck injury, and has been replaced by Dalton Papali’i, with Luke Jacobson coming into the reserves. Other changes in the reserves see Ofa Tu'ungafasi replace prop Tamaiti Williams, lock Sam Whitelock returns from injury in place of Tupou Vaa'i, halfback Cam Roigard replaces Finlay Christie, and midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown returns from suspension in place of Braydon Ennor.

All Blacks: 

Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Telea, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea (captain), Dalton Papali’i, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. 

Reserves: 

Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Sam Whitelock, Luke Jacobson, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke.

Farah Palmer Cup Round One Results

The 2023 Farah Palmer Cup has kicked off with three matches played in the Premiership division. 

Hawke’s Bay Tui: 32 

Tries: Kahlia Awa, Tee Aiolupotea, Teilah Ferguson, Leah Tuhi, Conversions: Krysten Cottrell 3, Penalties: Cottrell 2 

Auckland Storm: 31 

Tries: Melanie Puckett, Princess Elliot, Angelica Mekemeke Vahai, Mizuho Kataoka, Cheyenne Tuli-Fale, Conversions: France Bloomfield, Sophie Fisher 2

Canterbury: 58 

Tries: Karla Wright-Akeli 2, Marcelle Parkes 2, Atlanta Lolohea 2, Winnie Palamo, Martha Mataele, Hayley Hutana, Keighley Simpson, Conversions: Hutana 4

Wellington Pride: 29 

Tries: Justine McGregor 3,Siaiga Filipo, Angelica Schwenke, Conversions: Arene Landon-Lane 2

Waikato: 50 

Tries: Merania Pararone 2, Chantae Wilson-Jenkins 2, Chyna Hohepa, Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Lela Ieremia, Conversions: Samantha Wood con, 3 pen, Ariana Bayler 2, 

Bay of Plenty Volcanix: 0