All Blacks coach Steve Hansen named four uncapped players in an extended 39-man squad for the Rugby Championship as he looks to finalise his World Cup selections over the next six weeks.

By full time in Eden Park last weekend, so many history books were torn up that the bill might have bankrupted Beauden Barrett.

Beauden Barrett scored a record four tries as New Zealand routed Australia 40-12 at Eden Park to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt expects the full complement of 32 players to train tomorrow on Queensland’s Gold Coast as the Grand Slam winners begin preparations for Saturday’s opening Test against Australia.

AS Ireland’s Grand Slam celebrations began at Twickenham on St Patrick’s Day, Na Piarsaigh and Cuala played out a thrilling draw in the All-Ireland Club hurling final at Croke Park.

The All Blacks juggernaut hit a road bump in the British and Irish Lions series but it should be back to business as usual for the world champions when they take on South Africa, Australia and Argentina in the Rugby Championship.

All Blacks flanker Jerome Kaino has insisted he had no intention going out to injure Conor Murray during last Saturday's first Test against the British and Irish Lions.

The All Blacks’ ability to seal the Rugby Championship with two rounds remaining highlighted the burgeoning gap between the world champions and the rest of the sides, though the team were not prepared to let their final games become footnotes.

Michael Cheika is reluctant to heed fresh calls to shift Israel Folau to the centres as the Wallabies travel to Wellington striving to arrest their worst losing streak in more than a decade.

The final score was embarrassing for the Wallabies.

It comes ahead of their first Bledisloe Cup game with Australia today.

More than rugby pride is at stake when Australia and New Zealand clash in this afternoon’s World Cup final Remember when your little brother or sister beat you for the first time?

The odds are stacked against Australia as they head into Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final with arch rivals New Zealand, but coach Michael Cheika is refusing to contemplate defeat.

It’s four days after Dan Carter starred in a demolition job over the Wallabies, and he is sitting in the Eden Rugby clubrooms, a couple of spiral kicks away from Eden Park, with a smile as wide as the 41-13 scoreline by which his team retained the Bledisloe Cup.

It was such an uplifting, outlandish tale, one which saw a figure who had once been derided and abused become nothing less than an instant national treasure, that Stephen Donald was told by his one of his teammates after they’d won the World Cup: “Beaver, mate, there’s gotta be a film in your story.”

Ronan O’Gara suggests it is not so much the no 10 who is pivotal to Rugby World Cup success, but the goal-kicker. 

Australia have won the Rugby Championship and ended a long barren run against New Zealand, firing a World Cup warning shot to England and Wales in the process.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has declared there can be no excuses for his side in this morning’s Rugby Championship decider against Australia and warns they’re in for a tough game if they don’t improve.

So where do we stand after the autumn interntionals, asks Donal Lenihan?

Despite all the upheaval, history has shown the Aussies are a resilient bunch.

It’s that time of year again, as rugby’s giants and potential giant-killers head north of the equator to take on Europe’s powerhouses in their own backyards.

Barbarians 36 Australia 40

Australia 28 New Zealand 29

Australia foiled New Zealand’s bid to win an historic 18th consecutive Test as the Bledisloe Cup rivals played out a 12-12 stalemate at the ANZ Stadium.

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Ben Smith scored a hat-trick as New Zealand ruined Ewen McKenzie’s first match as Australia coach with a dominant 47-29 victory in the Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney.

Australia 29 New Zealand 47

James O’Connor has some regrets from the recent British and Irish Lions series but has vowed to change his ways in order to remain in the Australia fold.

New Australia coach Ewen McKenzie has no concerns over playmaker Quade Cooper’s ability to perform under pressure ahead of his likely Test return against the All Blacks next month.

Ewen McKenzie is targeting Bledisloe Cup success after being installed as the new Australia coach yesterday.

Ewen McKenzie has been confirmed as Australia’s new head coach following Robbie Deans’ resignation.

Robbie Deans has been sacked as Australia head coach following the Wallabies’ Test series defeat to the British and Irish Lions, according to reports in the Australian press.

It’s a dozen years since our columnist was manager of the Lions tour heading into a decisive final test in Sydney. He’s been facing his demons this week.

New Zealand 22 Australia 0

Australia full-back Kurtley Beale will get the chance to make up for his poor performance in Sydney last weekend after being named on the bench for tomorrow’s clash with New Zealand at Eden Park.

Quade Cooper is poised to return to the Australia team for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash with New Zealand in Auckland.

Australia captain David Pocock suffered a serious knee injury during yesterday’s 27-19 defeat by the All Blacks, the Wallabies have announced on their official website.

Australia 19 New Zealand 27

Sonny Bill Williams made a triumphant return to ANZ Stadium as New Zealand claimed victory over Australia in the Rugby Championship opener.