Farah Palmer Cup And NPC To Continue This Week.

NZ Rugby have announced the continuation of the NPC and Farah Palmer Cup without North Harbour, Auckland and Counties Manukau teams due to Auckland's level 4 Covid lockdown continuing.

The Farah Palmer Cup will continue on 18th September with Bay of Plenty facing Otago at Mount Maunganui, with Canterbury the bye, and Waikato v Counties Manukau and Wellington v Auckalnd unable to be played. On 25th-26th September Otago v Canterbury will be played in Dunedin, BOP v Wellington in Mount Maunganui, Taranaki v Hawkes Bay in Inglewood, Tasman v Manawatu in Nelson, with North Harbour v Northland and Auckland v Waikato unable to be played. Matches unable to be played be to level 4 lockdown will result in teams receiving two points each.

The NPC rounds for 17th-19th September will see Waikato v Canterbury in Hamilton, Taranaki v Wellington in Inglewood, Northland v Tasman in Whangarei, and Hawkes Bay v Bay of Plenty in Napier. For 24th- 26th September Tasman v Waikato is in Nelson, Manawatu v Northland in Palmerston North, Southland v Canterbury in Christchurch, Wellington v Hawkes Bay in Wellington, and Bay of Plenty v Taranaki in Tauranga. Further games and draw will be reviewed next week when more is known about Auckland lockdown levels.

All Blacks Beat Argentina To Lead Rugby Championship

The All Blacks are on top of the Fortinet Rugby Championship after a 39-0 bonus point win over Argentina on the Gold Coast on Sunday. The All Blacks scored five unanswered tries in a top defensive effort, with Argentina's sole scoring opportunity a missed penalty attempt. Argentina had to make 208 tackles to the All Blacks 108, missed 29 tackles to the All Blacks 9, and had only 186 metres gained to the All Blacks 702.

New Zealand All Blacks: 39

Tries: Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece, Dalton Papalii, Luke Jacobson 2, Conversions: Beauden Barrett, Jordy Barrett 3, Penalties: B Barrett, J Barrett

Argentina: 0

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

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

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

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.