Thursday, September 9, 2021

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Argentina in the Rugby Championship match in Brisbane on Sunday. Brodie Retallick will captain the side in place of Ardie Savea who was ruled out after a failed HIA against the Wallabies in Perth on Sunday. Asafo Aumua will start at hooker alongside Karl Tu'inukuafe and Nepo Laulala, with Luke Jacobson in for Savea, and Joe Moody, who is back from foot surgery on the bench. In the backs, TJ Perenara will start at halfback, with Brad Weber in the reserves, and George Bridge will start on the left wing and Sevu Reece on the right wing.

New Zealand All Blacks v Argentina:

1. Karl Tu'inukuafe
2. Asafo Aumua 
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Brodie Retallick (c)
5. Scott Barrett
6. Akira Ioane
7. Dalton Papalii
8. Luke Jacobson
9. TJ Perenara
10. Beauden Barrett
11. George Bridge
12. David Havili
13. Anton Lienert-Brown 
14. Sevu Reece
15. Jordie Barrett 

Reserves:

16. Samisoni Taukei'aho
17. Joe Moody
18. Tyrel Lomax
19. Tupou Vaa'i
20. Ethan Blackadder
21. Brad Weber
22. Damian McKenzie
23. Rieko Ioane


Monday, September 6, 2021

All Blacks Win Third Bledisloe Cup Match

The New Zealand All Blacks have completed a clean sweep of the Bledisloe Cup series with a 38-21 win over Australia in Perth on Sunday. The All Blacks had lost fullback Jordie Barrett to a red card in the 27th minute ( only for 20 minutes) after he raised his foot when taking a high kick and connected with the head of Marika Koroibete, but they still managed to lead 18-0 at halftime. Brother Scott Barrett was also sent off at the same ground two years ago. The All Blacks defense was the difference in the match, and they also scored a bonus point for the Fortinet Rugby Championship

New Zealand All Blacks: 38 

Tries: David Havili 2, Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, George Bridge, Conversion: Beauden Barrett, Penalties: Beauden barrett 2

 Australia: 21 

Tries: Folau Fainga'a, Nick White, Tom Banks, Conversions: Noah Lolesio, Reece Hodge 2

Thursday, September 2, 2021

All Blacks Named For Perth Bledisloe Cup Match

All Black coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Australia in Perth on Sunday 5th September at 6pm NZT for the third Bledisloe Cup match. The side features only one change to the forwards from Eden Park, with lock Scott Barrett replacing Sam Whitelock, who was one of the side not travelling to Perth for upcoming births. Ardie Savea will captain the side at number eight, with Ethan Blackadder and Tupou Vaa'i both coming onto the reserves bench. In the backs, Brad Weber starts at halfback, Beauden Barrett at first five, Anton Lienert-Brown at centre, Will Jordan on the right wing with Rieko Ioane shifting to the left, and Jordie Barrett at fullback. TJ Perenara is in the reserves, as is Damian McKenzie and George Bridge.

New Zealand All Blacks:

1. George Bower 
2. Codie Taylor
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Scott Barrett 
6. Akira Ioane 
7. Dalton Papalii 
8. Ardie Savea (c)
9. Brad Weber
10. Beauden Barrett 
11. Rieko Ioane 
12. David Havili 
13. Anton Lienert-Brown 
14. Will Jordan
15. Jordie Barrett 

Reserves:
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho 
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe 
18. Angus Ta’avao 
19. Tupou Vaa’i 
20. Ethan Blackadder 
21. TJ Perenara 
22. Damian McKenzie
23. George Bridge

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

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

Thursday, August 26, 2021

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.

Monday, August 23, 2021

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

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

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.