All Blacks Sevens Win Silver In Olympics Final

The All Black Sevens team has been beaten by Fiji 27-12 in their match for the 2021 Olympic Games gold in Tokyo last night. The New Zealand side had started on the back foot with error's gifting Fiji two tries in the opening minutes to Ratu Meli Derenalagi and Sireli Maqala. New Zealand trailed at the halftime break 19-12 after Fiji added a further try to Jiuta Wainiqolo, and New Zealand scored through Scott Curry and Sione Molia. The second half saw further errors and breakdown penalties against New Zealand, with Fiji adding a further try to Asaeli Tuivuaka and penalty kick. For the bronze medal playoff, Argentina beat Great Britain 17-12.

The All Black Sevens team had got through to the finals at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo after beating Great Britain 29-7.

Their first pool match against South Korea was a 50-5 win after only leading 14-5 at halftime. In their second match, Argentina scored first, but the New Zealanders struck back to lead 14-7 at halftime. Argentina was first to score in the second half to level the scores, but the lead was extended by tries to Joe Webber, Tim Mikkelsen and on fulltime Andrew Knewstubb for a final score 35-14. On day two, that had their third win over Australia 14-12 after they trailed early in the match.

After securing the top seed through points differential for the quarter finals, they played Canada to secure a 21-10 victory and match against Great Britain in the semi-finals. Other quarter finals results saw Fiji beat Australia 19-0, Argentina beat South Africa 19-14 after finishing match with only five players on the field, and Great Britain beat USA 26-21

Farah Palmer Cup Week Two Results

Week two of the Farah Palmer Cup saw a full round of matches, with wins to North Harbour at home over Tasman, Northland over Hawkes Bay in Napier, Canterbury over Waikato in Hamilton, Manawatu over Taranaki at home, Counties Manukau over Bay of Plenty at home, and Auckland over Otago in Dunedin. 

North Harbour: 35 

Tries: Hayley Hutana, Jade Wong, Anita Berry, Kate Williams, Ciara O'Connor, Conversions: Hutana 2, Penalties: Hutana 2 

Tasman: 32 

Tries: Easter Savelio, Eleri James-Smithers, Karla Wright-Akeli, Jess Foster-Lawrence, Eve Findlay, Conversions: Findlay 2, Penalty: Finlay

Canterbury 24 

Tries: Kendra Cocksedge 2, Grace Steinmetz, Conversions: Cocksedge 3, Penalty: Cocksedge

Waikato: 17 

Tries: Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Tanya Kalounivale, Kelsey Teneti, Conversion: Chelsea Alley

Northland Kauri: 46 

Tries: Kamila Wihongi, Sela Moata'ane, Hikitia Wikaira, Timara Leaf, Krystal Murray 2, Hinewai Pomare, Holli O'Sullivan, Conversions: Leilani Erwin, Murray, Tyler Nankiville

Hawke's Bay: 31 

Tries: Michaela Baker 2, Harmony Kautai 2, Moomooga Palu, Conversions: Krysten Cottrell

Manawatu: 48 

Tries: Janna Michel Vaughan 2, Lucy Brown 2, Crystal Mayes 2, Lauren Basillie 2, Conversions: Carys Dallinger 4 

Taranaki: 5 

Try: Aroha Nuku

Counties Manukau: 21 

Tries: Leilani Perese, Aeron Kalela Warbrooke, Conversion: Hazel Tubic, Penalties: Tubic 3

Bay of Plenty: 13 

Tries: Manaia Nuku, Karli Faneva, Penalty: Kalyn Takitimu-Cook

Auckland: 39 

Tries: Tafito Lafaele 2, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Natahlia Moors, Cristo Tofa, Conversions: Ruahei Demant 4, Penalties: Demant 2

Otago: 15 

Tries: Keely Hill, Oceana Campbell, Conversion: Sheree Hume, Penalty: Hume 

All Blacks Squad Named For 2021 Bledisloe Cup And Rugby Championship

All Black coach Ian Foster has named an update squad for the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship in the upcoming weeks. The squad features the return of halfback TJ Perenara who is back in the country after a playing sabbatical in Japan, while Braydon Ennor has recovered from appendicitis after being out for the latest Steinlager Series. Props Joe Moody and Ofa Tuungafasi have also returned from injury, which see's Ethan De Groot dropped from the squad.

Hookers:

Asafo Aumua, Dane Coles, Codie Taylor

Props:

Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Angus Ta’avao, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi 

Locks:

Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Whitelock  (c)

Loose Forwards:

Ethan Blackadder, Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu 

Halfbacks:

TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber 

First-Fives:

Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga 

Midfielders:

Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea 

Outside Backs:

Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie, Sevu Reece

Injury cover reserves:

George Bower, Finlay Christie, Samisoni Taukei’aho 

Farah Palmer Cup Week One Results

The opening round of the 2021 Farah Palmer Cup has seen wins for Canterbury, Auckland and Wellington. Defending champions Canterbury had a nine tries to two 59-12 win over Counties Manukau in Christchurch on Saturday, with Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge getting a double as well as centre Grace Booker. Auckland has beaten Bay of Plenty 44-12 at Eden Park in wet conditions, with a second half surge after only leading 15-5 at halftime. On Sunday Wellington defeated Otago 13-5 at Jerry Collins Stadium, with their defense proving the difference. With lots of errors marring Otago's game, it wasn't until the 74th minute that right wing Daimzel Rongokea scored the first points for the visitors.

Canterbury: 59 

Tries: Lucy Anderson, Kendra Cocksedge 2, Grace Brooker 2, Isabella Waterman, Alana Bremner, Olivia McGoverne, Tayla Simpson, Conversions: Cocksedge 5, Waterman 2

Counties Manukau: 12 

Tries: Emily Kitson, Amiria Te Iringa, Conversions: Hazel Tubic

Auckland: 44 

Tries: Maia Roos, Shannon Leota, Princess Elliot, Cristo Tofa, Sylvia Brunt, Sam Curtis, Conversions: Rauhei Demant 4, Penalties: Demant 2

Bay of Plenty: 12 

Tries: Grace Parata-Stewart, Kiki Tahere, Conversion: Ashleigh Timoko

Wellington: 13 

Try: Monica Tagoai, Conversion: Amanda Rasch, Penalties: Rasch 2

Otago: 5 

Try: Daimzel Rongokea 

All Blacks Defeat Fiji In Hamilton

The All Blacks have beaten Fiji 60-13 in Hamilton on Saturday night, for a sweep of the Steinlager Series. It was a much improved effort from the home side at the breakdown compared to last week, with Ardie Savea and Luke Jacobson having strong games. Winger Sevu Reece scored three tries, and debutant replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho scored a double.

All Blacks: 60 

Tries: Sevu Reece 3, Samisoni Taukei'aho 2, Ardie Savea, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Shannon Frizell, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga 5, Beauden Barrett

Fiji: 13 

Try: Peni Ravai, Conversion: Ben Volavola, Penalty: Volavola 2

All Blacks Named For Second Fiji Test In Hamilton

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Fiji in the second test in Hamilton on Saturday night. The side features nine changes from the starting side that face Fiji in Dunedin last weekend, and see's the return of Anton Lienert-Brown at centre after being out due to a elbow operation after the Super Rugby season. Ardie Savea will also return from a knee injury at openside flanker in place of Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson at number eight in place of Hoskins Sotutu, and Richie Mo'unga in place of Beauden Barrett. The match kicks off Saturday 17 July, 7.05pm at FMG Stadium, Hamilton.

Fiji coach Vern Cotter has made four changes to his starting side, with injured captain Levani Botia replaced by Eneriko Buliruarua, halfback Frank Lomani coming in after travel disruptions from Australia, Peceli Yato at number eight in place of Albert Tuisue, and Setareki Tuicuvu at wing in place of Eroni Sau. In the reserves Mesulame Dolokoto and Eroni Mawi are the replacement front rowers, Kitione Kamikamica covers the loose forwards, Moses Sorovi halfback, and Teti Tela outside backs.

All Blacks Team:

1. George Bower
2. Codie Taylor
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Scott Barrett
5. Samuel Whitelock - captain
6. Akira Ioane 
7. Ardie Savea 
8. Luke Jacobson 
9. Aaron Smith 
10. Richie Mo'unga 
11. Sevu Reece 
12. David Havili 
13. Anton Lienert-Brown 
14. Will Jordan 
15. Damian McKenzie 

Reserves:

16. Dane Coles 
17. Ethan de Groot 
18. Angus Ta'avao 
19. Brodie Retallick 
20. Shannon Frizell 
21. Brad Weber 
22. Beauden Barrett 
23. Rieko Ioane 

Fiji Team: 

Kini Murimurivalu, Setareki Tuicuvu, Waisea Nayacalevu, Eneriko Buliruarua, Nemani Nadolo, Ben Volavola, Frank Lomani; Peceli Yato, Mesulame Kunavula, Johnny Dyer, Leone Nakarawa (c), Temo Mayanavanua, Mesaki Doge, Sam Matavesi, Peni Ravai. 

Reserves: 

Mesulame Dolokoto, Eroni Mawi, Leeroy Atalifo, Albert Tuisue, Kitione Kamikamica, Moses Sorovi, Teti Tela, Manasa Mataele.

All Blacks Defeat Fiji In Dunedin

The All Blacks have made it two from two for the 2021 season with a 57-32 win over Fiji in Dunedin on Saturday night.

The final score flattered the All Blacks after Fiji had trailed by 21-11 at halftime, with the visitors physical game proving a challenge for the home side. Fiji had opened the scoring with a penalty in the sixth minute, before the All Blacks struck back with a try to Jordie Barrett. Fiji reduced the margin to 7-6 with their second penalty before David Havili scored tries in the 18th and 22nd minute. Fiji was then in for their first try after Albert Tuisue scored off a lineout drive. 

The second half opened with a try to winger George Bridge in the 44th minute, but Fiji struck back with one of their own to Mesulame Kunavula in the 49th minute. Replacement Dane Coles was next to score off another lineout drive, before Fiji were awarded a a penalty try after David Havili was ruled to have pulled down a rolling maul close to the line. Coles was in again for his second try of another lineout drive in the 65th minute, before back replacement Will Jordan scored in the 70th minute. It was then the 74th minute and Coles with his hat-trick off another lineout drive, before replacement halfback Finlay Christie darting run near the Fiji line had Coles touching down for his fourth after picking up a loose ball. 

New Zealand All Blacks: 57 

Tries: Jordie Barrett, David Havili 2, George Bridge, Dane Coles 4, Will Jordan tries; Beauden Barrett 6 con) 

Fiji: 23 

Tries: (Albert Tuisue, Mesulame Kunavula tries; Penalty try; Ben Volavola 2 pen). HT: 21-11