All Blacks Named To Face Uruguay

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Uruguay on Friday at 8am NZT in their final pool match at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

After defeating Italy 96-17 in the weekend, Foster has made nine changes to the starting side, and seven on the reserves bench. In the starting side captain Sam Cane returns after being in the reserves last week, along with fellow Chiefs Luke Jacobson and Tupou Vaaí who will partner Sam Whitelock in his 150th test. In the backs Anton Lienert-Brown is in at center, Damian McKenzie at fullback, Leicester Fainga’anuku on the left wing and Cam Roigard at halfback. The additions to the reserves see flanker Ethan Blackadder included after initially missing the Rugby World Cup, but coming in two weeks ago as an injury replacement

New Zealand All Blacks: 

Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Cam Roigard; Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane (c), Shannon Frizell, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Whitelock, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ofa Tuungafasi. 

Reserves: 

Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Ethan Blackadder, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke.

Black Ferns Beat Australia To Retain OReilly Cup

The Black Ferns have beaten Australia 43-3 in Hamilton on Saturday to retain the Laurie O'Reilly cup.

The Black Ferns scored seven tries in total, and led 31-0 at halftime, with a more determined Australia limiting the score in the second half. After holding the Black Ferns scoreless for the first 30 minutes in the second half, the red carding of Australian Bridie O'Gorman, saw the Black Ferns run in two further tries.

New Zealand Black Ferns: 43

Tries: Katelyn Vahaakolo 2, Krystal Murray, Patricia Maliepo, Sylvia Brunt, Lucy Jenkins, Martha Mataele, Conversions: Ruahei Demant 4

Australia Wallaroos: 3

Penalty: Carys Dallinger

All Blacks Win Against Italy

In a match that was billed as a potential stumbling block to the Rugby World Cup quarter final seedings, the All Blacks have hammered Italy 96-17 in Lyon on Saturday. The All Blacks scored five tries in the first 25 minutes, and seven by half time leading 49-3. The second half saw Italy more competitive, with a try resulting in the All Blacks making multiple replacements. The All Blacks scored six second half tries, and saw lock Sam Whitelock break the All Blacks starts with 149 appearances.

New Zealand: 96

Tries: Will Jordan 2, Aaron Smith 3, Mark Tele'a, Ardie Savea 2, Brodie Retallick, Dalton Papali'i, Dane Coles 2, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga 9, McKenzie 4

Italy: 17

 Tries: Ange Capuozzo, Monty Ioane, Conversions: Tommaso Allan, Paolo Garbisi, Penalty: Allen

Black Ferns Named To Face Australia In Hamilton

New Zealand Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting has named his side to face Australia in the second O'Reilly Cup match at 4.35pm in Hamilton on Saturday.

Bunting has named three debutants on his reserves bench, Auckland prop Chryss Viliko, Manawatu loose forward Layla Sae and Canterbury winger Martha Mataele. He also has Northland lock Charmaine Smith returning to the side after initially retiring in 2019 with a neck injury, and Auckland utility Patricia Maliepo starting at fullback after she missed last years Rugby World Cup win with concussion.

The Black Ferns will also play further internationals in the inaugural WXV 1 series against France on 21st October at Sky Stadium in Wellington, Wales on 28th October at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, and England on 4th November at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

New Zealand Black Ferns: 

1-Krystal Murray, 2-Georgia Ponsonby, 3-Amy Rule, 4-Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 5-Charmaine Smith, 6-Alana Bremner, 7-Kennedy Simon (cc), 8-Liana Mikaele Tu'u, 9-Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, 10-Ruahei Demant (cc), 11-Katelyn Vahaakolo, 12-Sylvia Brunt, 13-Amy du Plessis, 14-Mererangi Paul, 15. Patricia Maliepo

Reserves: 

16-Luka Connor, 17-Chryss Viliko, 18-Tanya Kalounivale, 19-Lucy Jenkins, 20-Layla Sae, 21-Iritana Hohaia, 22-Rosie Kelly, 23-Martha Mataele

Australia Wallaroos: 

1. Bree-Anna Cheatham, 2. Adiana Talakai, 3. Eva Karpani, 4. Sera Naiqama, 5. Michaela Leonard (C), 6. Kaitlan Leaney, 7. Emily Chancellor, 8. Ashley Marsters, 9. Layne Morgan, 10. Carys Dallinger, 11. Ivania Wong, 12. Trilleen Pomare, 13. Georgina Friedrichs, 14. Maya Stewart, 15. Lori Cramer

Reserves: 

16. Tania Naden, 17. Emily Robinson, 18. Bridie O’Gorman, 19. Leilani Nathan, 20. Tabua Tuinakauvadra, 21. Jasmin Huriwai, 22. Cecilia Smith, 23. Faitala Moleka

All Blacks Named To Face Italy

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Italy in their final pool match at the Rugby World Cup, with lock Sam Whitelock in the reserves for his potential 149th test appearance for the All Blacks.

Their are several players returning from injury in the starting side and in the reserves. Same Cane's back injury and Tyrel Lomax's knee cut have allowed their inclusion on the reserves bench while both Jordie Barrett and Shannon Frizell will both start their first games of the tournament. 

New Zealand All Blacks: 

Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Telea, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea (capt), Dalton Papalii, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, Ofa Tuungafasi. 

Reserves: 

Dane Coles, Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Cam Roigard, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown.

All Blacks Beat Namibia

The All Blacks have beaten Namibia 71-3 in wet conditions, with halfback and man of the match Cam Roigard getting two tries.

The All Blacks scored eleven tries, with the opening one from Roigard after only a minute and a half into the match, with first five Damian McKenzie also getting a double and 26 points in the match. The All Blacks again conceded multiple penalties with he count 12-7 against them, and also lost prop Ethan de Groot to the sin-bin in the 71st minute for a shoulder to head clash in a tackle, which was upgraded to a red card from the television match official. 

The All Blacks now have a week off, and will next face Italy on the 30th September.

New Zealand: 71 

Tries: Cam Roigard 2, Damian McKenzie 2, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ethan de Groot, Dalton Papali'i, David Havili, Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane tries; McKenzie 8 con) 

Namibia: 3

Penalty: Tiaan Swanepoel pen). HT: 38-3

Auckland And Northland Win Farah Palmer Cup Finals

Auckland has beaten Canterbury 39-27 to win the Farah Palmer Cup for the first time since 2015, and Northland has won promotion to the Premier division for 2024 after beating Manawatu 32-29.

Auckland: 39 

Tries: Angelica Vahai 2, Eloise Blackwell 2, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Ruahei Demant, Conversions: Demant 3, Penalty: Demant 

Canterbury: 27 

Tries: Karla Wright-Akeli, Amy du Plessis, Georgia Ponsonby, Conversions: Rosie Kelly 3, Penalties: Kelly 2  

Northland: 32 

Tries: Hikitia Wikaira, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate 2, Tara Turner, Conversions: Krystal Murray 3, Penalties: Murray 2 

Manawatū: 29

Tries: Te Whetumarama Nuku 2, Marilyn Fanoga 2, Ruci Malanicagi, Conversions: Corrineke Windle, Maia Davis