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
The British and Irish Lions stumbled to a 23-22 defeat to the Otago Highlanders on Tuesday as they suffered the second loss of their tour ahead of next week’s first Test against the All Blacks. The Lions finally found their attacking mojo, scoring three tries to two — more than doubling their try tally so … Read more
All Blacks great John Kirwan has dismissed claims that British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland is one-dimensional, saying his former team-mate brings an “X-factor” to the touring squad. Gatland’s critics say his teams play “Warrenball”, using big centres who burst into opposition territory and draw in defenders to create space for the backs. But … Read more
The composer of the Auckland Blues’ haka defended the war dance Thursday after critics complained it included a throat-slitting gesture that was offensive to victims of the London terror attacks. The Super Rugby team unveiled their new haka in front of a 40,000-plus crowd at Eden Park on Wednesday night before posting an upset 22-16 … Read more
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen on Thursday said he was expecting the “kitchen sink” from the British and Irish Lions — but scoffed at suggestions the All Blacks weren’t much better than a Super Rugby team. Hansen played down the Lions’ lacklustre start to their tour, after their narrow victory over the New Zealand Provincial … Read more
All Blacks coach Steven Hansen said star hooker Dane Coles could miss the British and Irish Lions series with concussion as he included a number of injured players in a 33-man squad on Thursday. Coles, a world player of the year finalist last year, hasn’t played for three months as he battles concussion symptoms. He … Read more
Three Barrett brothers were named Thursday in a powerful All Blacks squad to face the British and Irish Lions with Jordie Barrett one of only two new players in the New Zealand side. Coach Steve Hansen called it one of the “toughest” squads he has had to select as he assembled a line-up with 1,164 … Read more
The British and Irish Lions won’t panic after losing to the Auckland Blues but understand more than ever the need to stop “monster” centre Sonny Bill Williams, scrum-half Rhys Webb said. Williams inspired the Blues to a 22-16 win over the Lions at Eden Park on Wednesday but the tourists were vastly improved on the … Read more
The Auckland Blues will unleash their own version of the haka against the British and Irish Lions Wednesday, as New Zealand’s Super Rugby teams ramp up pressure on Warren Gatland’s tourists. The fearsome Maori war dance is traditionally reserved for the world champion All Blacks but New Zealand’s five Super Rugby sides all plan to … Read more
The British and Irish Lions received a traditional Maori welcome on Wednesday as they arrived in New Zealand for the “ultimate challenge” of a Test series against the world champion All Blacks. Players from the composite team of English, Welsh, Irish and Scottish players wore suits and red ties as they flew in at the … Read more
The All Blacks have “plenty of room” for improvement and have not reached their potential, coach Steve Hansen said Tuesday ahead of a three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions. Hansen told The Times the squad were breaking in new players and re-establishing themselves after the loss of stars such as Dan Carter. “I … Read more
The Canterbury Crusaders will pitch their unbeaten 13-match run against the in-form Otago Highlanders in an enticing Super Rugby showdown after yet another New Zealand rampage this weekend. The seven-time champions registered a 41-19 bonus-point victory over the hapless Melbourne Rebels to protect an 11-point lead at the top of the all-conquering New Zealand conference … Read more
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has said he is likely to step down after the next World Cup in 2019, according to a report on Friday. “I think, without committing to it 100 percent, I can’t see myself extending beyond the World Cup,” the New Zealand Herald quoted Hansen as saying. Hansen, who is preparing … Read more
All Blacks captain Kieran Read has signed a deal to stay in New Zealand rugby through to the 2019 World Cup in Japan. No 8 Read, a double Rugby World Cup champion and 2013 World Player of the Year, has played 97 Tests for the All Blacks since making his debut in 2008, 22 as … Read more
All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster re-signed with New Zealand Rugby on Tuesday, boosting his chances of being the next head coach of the world champion All Blacks. Foster and forwards coach Mike Cron both extended their commitment through to the 2019 World Cup in Japan. The announcement came just four days after defence coach … Read more
All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith announced Friday he was leaving the world champions, saying he needed to “take a break” from the game. The widely respected Smith, part of the brains trust that helped guide New Zealand to back-to-back World Cups, said he would step down at the end of the Rugby Championship in … Read more
Former New Zealand coach Graham Henry has weighed in on the ongoing debate over the crippling tackle on Brian O’Driscoll in the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour, saying it “helped galvanise” the All Blacks. The dangerous dumping in the opening minute of the first Test dislocated O’Driscoll’s shoulder ruling the Lions skipper out of … Read more
Japan coach Jamie Joseph said Thursday that the Brave Blossoms were World Cup small fry, despite a breakout performance two years ago. The host nation will share the same pool as Ireland and Scotland for the 2019 tournament following Wednesday’s draw in Kyoto, where Joseph confessed to feeling a little intimidated. “It wasn’t until I … Read more
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen warned England they could struggle to get out of a treacherous group for the second straight Rugby World Cup. Hansen appeared to play down English hopes of knocking the All Blacks off their perch as rugby’s top side, after the 2003 champions drew France and Argentina among their pool rivals … Read more
England were hit with a horror World Cup draw alongside France and Argentina on Wednesday in a devilishly tricky bracket that French coach Guy Noves called a “death group”. The 2003 champions were handed the toughest assignment of rugby’s top nations, with holders New Zealand drawing South Africa and Italy in Pool B. Two-time winners … Read more