Warren Gatland believes his British and Irish Lions shot themselves in the foot as they lost 23-22 to the Highlanders under the roof at the Forsyth Barr Stadium today.

The British and Irish Lions have won 12-3 against the Crusaders in Christchurch

Willie Mullins has admitted the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse tomorrow is "coming a bit quick" for Outlander as he aims to bounce back from his fall at last week's Cheltenham Festival.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen faces a public backlash after naming scrum-half Piri Weepu in his 30-man squad for this month’s three-test series with Ireland.

Leinster forwards coach Jono Gibbes has dismissed reports in New Zealand linking Joe Schmidt with the soon-to-be-vacant Super Rugby head coach role at the Auckland Blues.

It has taken 26 million years, but scientists say getting the first glimpse of a long-extinct giant penguin was worth the wait.

USA head coach Eddie O’Sullivan last night said he believed he had picked his strongest available squad for the World Cup.

Fly-half Dan Carter returns to the New Zealand side for Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash with Australia but there is no place in Graham Henry’s 22-man squad for Sonny Bill Williams.

GRAHAM HENRY expects his New Zealand side to face a much-changed South Africa one when the two countries meet in the Tri-Nations on Saturday.

THE New Zealand Maori squad has been named for next month’s Centenary series — which includes a clash with Ireland — with former All Blacks Corey Flynn, Hosea Gear, Tanerau Latimer, Luke McAlister, Liam Messam and Isaac Ross all named.

Hosea Gear is looking forward to getting some game time with the Wellington Lions after a frustrating few weeks on the sidelines with New Zealand.

Otago and Chiefs scrum-half Toby Morland has signed a six-month contract with Munster.

Wales great Mervyn Davies has backed Ryan Jones’ credentials to captain the British and Irish Lions in South Africa next summer.

ALL BLACK hopeful Kieran Read has failed to make Graham Henry’s 26-man squad for the Test series against Ireland and England and the Philips Tri Nations.

Adam Thomson and Richard Kahui were the surprise selections among six new caps named in the New Zealand squad for the forthcoming Tests against Ireland and England.

Connacht Rugby has announced that Andrew Farley will captain the side for the 2007/08 season.

Defending champions New Zealand Maori have named four debutants in the side to face Canada in tomorrow’s Barclays Churchill Cup clash in Northampton.

Uncapped duo Brendon Leonard and John Schwalger have been called up to the New Zealand squad for the Tests against France, Canada and the upcoming Tri-Nations tournament.

Highlanders and Otago captain Josh Blackie has continued the exodus from New Zealand after agreeing a deal to play in Japan.

New Zealand prop Carl Hayman has confirmed he will join Guinness Premiership side Newcastle Falcons after the World Cup.

ALL BLACKS coach Graham Henry has hailed France as the northern hemisphere’s best team ahead of back-to-back Tests in Lyon and Paris.

Ireland have a worry over full-back Geordan Murphy ahead of Saturday’s second Test against New Zealand in Auckland.

South African-born lock Greg Rawlinson has been called into the New Zealand squad ahead of their Tests against Ireland and Argentina.

New Zealand flanker Richie McCaw has been ruled out of tomorrow’s Test against England at Twickenham.

New Zealand head coach Graham Henry has named Sitiveni Sivivatu and Doug Howlett on the wings for Saturday’s highly-anticipated clash with England at Twickenham.

Otago fly-half Nick Evans has been drafted into New Zealand’s squad for their Great Britain and Ireland tour.

ALL BLACKS captain Tana Umaga may be shielded from playing in front of irate Irish rugby fans next month as coach Graham Henry looks to keep his players’ workloads in check during a rare Grand Slam tour.

Versatility and a focus on improving the depth of talent have been the key elements in the New Zealand squad named by Graham Henry for their tour of Britain and Ireland next month.

THE Lions tour ground to its inevitable conclusion in Auckland on Saturday. Ever since the opening test two weeks ago, it was impossible to visualise anything but a 3-0 series victory to the All Blacks.

Luke McAlister is undaunted by the challenge of stepping into New Zealand hero Dan Carter’s boots for the final Test against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.

WHEN the call came it was so good he heard it twice: Donncha O’Callaghan had been selected to start for the Lions in Saturday’s second Test against the All Blacks.

WAIKATO flanker Marty Holah will make his first start for the Junior All Blacks when they take on Australia A in the second and final international in Sydney tomorrow.

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

THERE ARE occasions in sport when you don’t always get what you deserve. So inept was the performance from the Lions on Saturday, that this wasn’t one of them.

IF THE mind games in the build-up to the first Test are anything to go by, we’re in for one hell of a game tomorrow in Christchurch.

NEW ZEALAND's record try-scorer has warned his compatriots the British and Irish Lions have yet to realise their potential, but it's doubtful if his countrymen heard him - after all, his comments were made in Cork.

BEAUTY, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder and one man’s “incredibly exciting back division” is another’s team of robots.

British and Irish Lions coach Clive Woodward has named three Irish players in his starting 15 for the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch this Saturday.

EGOS were bruised and Gavin Henson was “absolutely devastated”, but Clive Woodward had no room for sentiment in naming the Lions side to play Southland, which by attrition broke the news to half his squad that they were not in the first Test.

IN many ways, this morning’s date with Southland was the game no British and Irish Lion wanted to be a part of.

Michael Owen has challenged his Lions midweek team-mates to “keep the pressure on” and shrug off their Test disappointment.

LIONS coach Clive Woodward has challenged his midweek players to rise above the disappointment of being excluded from the squad for this weekend’s first Test in Christchurch.