All Blacks coach Steve Hansen compared Saturday’s first Test with the British and Irish Lions to a World Cup final as they prepare to take on a touring party that has been growing in confidence and form. The Lions have shaken off a slow start to their tour to develop into a formidable force, but … Read more
The All Blacks are expecting a tough battle against Samoa on Friday as they fine-tune their game ahead of the three-Test series against British and Irish Lions. “Everyone is talking about the big battle around the corner but our mentality is the best way to prepare for a battle is to have a battle,” assistant … Read more
Dane Coles is the latest All Black battling fitness issues ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour, with the Wellington Hurricanes revealing Wednesday that the hooker has concussion symptoms. Coles has not taken the field since he injured his knee when the Hurricanes played the Highlanders on March 18, then strained a calf muscle … Read more
The All Blacks were Sunday sweating on the availability of captain Kieran Read for the looming British and Irish Lions series after the backrower suffered a broken thumb. Read left the field just before half-time during the Canterbury Crusaders’ 48-21 victory over the Central Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. The bonus point win kept the unbeaten Crusaders … Read more
Auckland Blues hardman Jerome Kaino has joined a growing list of All Blacks sidelined by injury as the Super Rugby competition takes its toll ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour. Kaino is to undergo surgery on an injured knee on Friday and will be out of action for six weeks, putting him in … Read more
The pacesetting Waikato Chiefs have taken the opportunity to experiment as they escape another round of frenzied local derbies for their first trans-Tasman game of the Super Rugby season. After a tough first three weeks against the Otago Highlanders, Auckland Blues and Wellington Hurricanes, the Chiefs have a favourable round-four match against the winless Rebels … Read more
A gruelling round three of Super Rugby this weekend has proved costly for New Zealand’s backline, with five All Blacks sidelined with leg injuries. Israel Dagg, Waisake Naholo, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Seta Tamanivalu and Lima Sopoaga were all injured ahead of the arrival of the British and Irish Lions in June. The fullback cupboard is almost … Read more