Super Rugby Pacific 2022 Announced

New Zealand Rugby has confirmed details of Super Rugby Pacific that will start in February 2020, and will be jointly run by NZ Rugby and Rugby Australia.

Replacing the old format of sides from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina, the new competition will contain a total of twelve teams, with New Zealand and Australia both having five teams each, and new sides the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika. 

The competition will start on 18th February 2022, and have an eight-team playoff series with a final on 18th June. Each side will play a total of 14 matches, with 7 of those based at home, and they will play eight teams once and three local teams twice. The 12 teams are the Blues, Brumbies, Chiefs, Crusaders, Fijian Drua, Highlanders, Hurricanes, Melbourne Rebels, Moana Pasifika, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds and Western Force

All Blacks Named For Rugby Championship Tour In Australia

All Black coach Ian Foster has named an initial 35-man squad for the Australian Rugby Championship Series and Northern Hemisphere Tour. Missing from the squad is lock Sam Whitelock, halfback Aaron Smith and first-five Richie Mo’unga, with all of them expecting the birth of children in the near future. The All Blacks will play a combined 10 tests in 12 weeks, with confirmation of the third Bledisloe Cup match to be played in Perth on Sunday 5th September at 6pm NZT.

All Blacks Squad:

Forwards: 

Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor. Props: George Bower, Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Angus Ta’avao, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi. Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i. Loose forwards: Ethan Blackadder, Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu.

Backs: 

Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber. First five–eighths: Beauden Barrett. Midfielders: Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea. Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie, Sevu Reece.

All Blacks Update On Bledisloe Cup And Rugby Championship.

The All Blacks have beaten Australia 57-22 to win the second Bledisloe Cup match and secure the trophy for another year. The record points haul against Australia in the eight tries to three victory, was cemented in a second half, after handling errors blighted both sides in the first spell. 

New Zealand All Blacks: 57 

Tires: Rieko Ioane, Brodie Retallick, Ardie Savea, Codie Taylor 2, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan, David Havili, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga 5, Beauden Barrett 2, Penalty: Damian McKenzie 

Australia: 22 

Tries: Andrew Kelleway 2, Tate McDermott, Conversions: Noah Lolesio 2, Penalty: Lolesio

Sanzaar has announced that the 2021 Rugby Championship will be hosted in Queensland after New Zealand and several Australian states were placed into lockdown over the last few weeks.

Four Rugby Championship double headers will be played in Townsville, the Gold Coast and Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium during September and October, and the third Bledisloe Cup match originally scheduled for 28th August in Perth, will now be played on either 3rd or 4th of September. The All Blacks are scheduled to leave New Zealand this weekend, after delaying the departure last Sunday over uncertainty if any matches would take place

2021 Rugby Championship:

Round 1
Sat 14 August: New Zealand 57 v Australia 22 , Eden Park, Auckland
Sat 14 August: South Africa 32 v Argentina 12 , Mandela Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Round 2
Sat 21 August: Argentina 29 v South Africa 10 , Mandela Stadium, Port Elizabeth
TBC: Australia v New Zealand: Optus Stadium, Perth**

Round 3
Sunday 12 September: New Zealand v Argentina: CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast 
Sunday 12 September:  South Africa v Australia: CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast 

 
Round 4
Saturday 18 September: Argentina v New Zealand: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 
Saturday 18 September:  Australia v South Africa: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 

 
Round 5
Sat 25 September: New Zealand v South Africa: QLD Country Bank Stadium, Townsville 
Sat 25 September: Australia v Argentina: QLD Country Bank Stadium, Townsville 

Round 6
Sat 2 October: South Africa v New Zealand: CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Sat 2 October: Argentina v Australia: CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast

All Blacks Named To Face Australia For Second Bledisloe Cup Match

All Black coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Australia in the second Bledisloe Cup match, which is again at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday 14th August, 7.05pm. With Anton Lienert-Brown suffering a knee injury in last weeks test, Rieko Ioane moves into centre, and Will Jordan will start on the right wing. Halfback TJ Perenara has been named on the reserves bench, along with the three Barrett brothers. 

Australia coach Dave Rennie has made four changes to his starting side from last week, with Marika Koroibete coming in after being stood down last week, and Lachlan Swinton in at blindside. Other changes have Matt To'omua in at second five and Matt Philip at lock, while Rob Valetini moves to number eight.

All Blacks: 

1-George Bower, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Sam Whitelock (c), 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Dalton Papalii, 8-Ardie Savea, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11- Sevu Reece, 12-David Havili, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Will Jordan, 15-Damian McKenzie

Reserves: 

16-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17-Karl Tu'inikuafe, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Scott Barrett, 20-Luke Jacobson, 21-TJ Perenara, 22-Beauden Barrett, 23-Jordie Barrett

Australia:

Tom Banks, Andrew Kellaway, Hunter Paisami, Matt To’omua, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott, Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper (c), Lachlan Swinton, Matt Philip, Darcy Swain, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper. 

Reserves: 

Jordan Uelese, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Harry Wilson, Nic White, Len Ikitau, Reece Hodge.

2021 Bunnings NPC Round One Results

Wellington tops the table for the 2021 Bunnings NPC after a bonus point 54-7 win over Northland, while Manawatu, Taranaki, Otago, Tasman, Waikato, and Auckland also had wins.

Manawatu: 39 

Tries: Drew Wild, Brett Cameron, Ray Niuia tries; Cameron 3 con, 6 pen) 

Counties Manukau: 21 

Tries: Alamanda Motuga, Kalolo Tuiloma, Conversion: Jarrod Halliday, Penalties: Halliday 3

Taranaki: 33 

Tries: Bradley Slater 2, Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Conversions: Stephen Perofeta 3, Penalties: Perofeta 4

Hawke's Bay: 19 

Tries: Lincoln McClutchie, Devan Flanders, Ash Dixon tries; McClutchie con; Tiaan Falcon con). HT: 19-12

Wellington: 54 

Tries: Taine Plumtree 3, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Alex Fidow, Julian Savea, Bruce Kauika-Petersen, Brandyn Laursen, Conversions: Ruben Love 5, Laursen 2 

Northland: 7 

Try: Jordan Olsen, Conversion: Rivez Reihana

Otago: 26 

Tries: Sam Gilbert, Freedom Vaha'akolo, Conversions: Vilimoni Koroi, Gilbert, Penalties: Josh Ioane, Koroi 3 

Southland: 19 

Tries: Greg Pleasants-Tate, Conversion: Marty Banks, Penalties: Banks 4

Bay of Plenty: 14 

Tries: Luke Campbell, Sean Wainui, Conversions: Kaleb Trask 2

Tasman: 27 

Tries: Tim O'Malley, Quentin MacDonald 2, Conversions: Mitch Hunt 3, Penalties: Hunt 2

North Harbour: 15 

Tries: Bryn Hall, Moses Leo, Conversion: Bryn Gatland, Penalty: Gatland

Waikato: 28 

Tries: Mosese Dawai 2, Sekope Lopeti-Moli, Mitch Jacobson, Conversions: Fletcher Smith 4

Auckland: 35 

Tries: AJ Lam 3, Harry Plummer, Conversions: Plummer 3, Penalties: Plummer 3

Canterbury: 24 

Tries: Manasa Mataele, Corey Kellow, Shilo Klein, Conversions: Fergus Burke 3, Penalty: Burke

Farah Palmer Cup Week Four Results

Manawatū Cyclones: 67 

Tries: Jayme Nuku, Rangi-Marie Sturmey, Kaia Walker-Waitoa 2, Lauran Balsillie 2, Layla Sae 2, Crystal Mayes, Elinor-Plum King, Janna Vaughan, Conversions: Walker-Waitoa, Carys Dallinger 4, Laura Claridge

Hawke's Bay Tuis: 12 

Tries: Amelia Pasikala, Michaela Baker, Conversion: Krysten Cottrell

Wellington Pride: 26 

Tries: Georgia Daals, Ayesha Leti-l'iga, Harmony Ioane, Conversion: Amanda Rasch, Penalties: Rasch 3

Counties Manukau Heat: 25 

Tries: Kalo Cuthers 2, Shannon Muru, Conversions: Hazel Tubic 2, Penalty: Tubic

Otago Spirit: 22 

Tries: Daimzel Rongokea, Cheyenne Cunningham, Teilah Ferguson, Conversions: Sheree Hume 2, Penalty: Hume 

Waikato: 29 

Tries: Chelsea Alley, Victoria Edmonds 2, Mia Anderson, Kennedy Simon, Conversions: Ariana Bayler 2

North Harbour Hibiscus: 24 

Tries: Jessie Courtenay Malupo, Wairakau Greig, Kate Williams, Tenaija Fletcher, Conversions: Hayley Hutana 2 

Taranaki Whio: 10 

Tries: Keighley Simpson, Aroha Nuku

Northland: 27 

Tries: Sela Moata'ane, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali 2, Tiaho Mahanga, Krystal Murray, Conversion: Murray

Tasman: 0 

Auckland Storm: 7 

Try: Aldora Itunu, Conversion: Ruahei Demant 

Canterbury: 32 

Tries: Grace Steinmetz, Olivia McGoverne, Phillipa Love, Amy Rule, Jorja Miller, Conversions: Kendra Cocksedge 2, Penalty: Rosie Kelly

All Blacks Win First Bledisloe Match

The All Blacks have won the first Bledisloe Cup match against Australia 33-25 at Auckland's Eden Park. Both sides scored four tries each, but kicking was the difference, with Australian first five Noah Lolesio missing five shots at goal, and managing only one penalty and conversion. The All Blacks held a 16-8 halftime lead, and extended it to 33-8 midway through the second half before an Australian fightback saw them score three tries in the final twelve minutes.

New Zealand All Blacks: 33 

Tries: Sevu Reece, Richie Mo'unga, David Havili, Damian McKenzie, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga 2, Penalties: Mo'unga 3 

Australia: 25 

Tries: Andrew Kellaway, Tom Banks 2, Jordan Uelese, Conversion: Noah Lolesio, Penalty: Lolesio