THE All Blacks need to forge ahead with the Rugby World Cup without their superstar out half Dan Carter, former All Blacks captain Todd Blackadder believes.

Ospreys second row James Goode has signed a new two-year contract with the Welsh region.

IT seems a lifetime ago since Tom Court was a loner on the athletic fields of Queensland making his name as a champion shot-putter and chasing a place on the Australian Olympic team.

Tamati Ellison’s chances of making the New Zealand squad for the upcoming end of year tour have been given a big boost following Isaia Toeava’s latest stress fracture injury.

NEW ZEALAND Maori inside centre Rua Tipoki could be Munster-bound in time for next season’s Heineken Cup campaign.

Munster have added to their arsenal with the signing of Lifeimi Mafi for the Heineken Cup.

IT’S a big occasion for Leinster’s player of the season, Felipe Contepomi, in tonight’s Celtic League clash with Llanelli Scarlets at Lansdowne Road (7.10pm).

FORMER Ireland defensive coach Mike Ford will be named as Saracens head coach when he returns from the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.

Matt Dawson tonight admitted the Lions have “a very difficult week” ahead of them as they prepare to complete their miserable tour with an Eden Park double-header.

THE midweek Lions face their toughest assignment when they take on NPC hotshots Auckland in their final game at Eden Park tomorrow morning (8.10).

LIONS COACH Clive Woodward has ripped up a year of planning and strategy to perform radical surgery on his test team in a bid to rescue the series against the All Blacks.

Manawatu 6 Lions 109

The Lions could field an all-Munster combination in their second-row for Saturday’s second Test against New Zealand in Wellington.

Five-try star Shane Williams has declared himself ready to step up to face the All Blacks on Saturday after cutting Manawatu to shreds in the 109-6 victory in Palmerston North.

Shane Williams enhanced his Test credentials with a sparkling five-try performance as the Lions finally found some attacking form to rack up a century of points against Manawatu and claim their biggest ever win in New Zealand.

A hat-trick of tries from Shane Williams ensures that the Lions have finished the first half well ahead of second-division opposition Manawatu.

Manawatu coach Charlie McAlister has named just one player with Super 12 experience in his starting line-up to face the British and Irish Lions tomorrow.

Jason Robinson and Martin Corry appear to be fighting for their Lions Test team places as Lions chief Clive Woodward has named both England stars in his midweek side to face New Zealand second division outfit Manawatu in Palmerston North tomorrow.

CLIVE WOODWARD has delayed naming his team for tomorrow’s match against Manawatu in Palmerston North (8.10am).

The British and Irish Lions will play an additional match against Auckland, the New Zealand Rugby Union have announced.