THEY were committed, they were smart. They played with imagination and were clever.

THE patient is alive.

Stephen Ferris has expressed his dismay that New Zealand escaped punishment for their cynical play at the breakdown in yesterday’s 38-18 victory over Ireland.

Declan Kidney refused to take solace in an encouraging performance after Ireland were defeated 38-18 by New Zealand.

Brian O’Driscoll was heartened by Ireland’s confidence-restoring performance in a 38-18 defeat against the All Blacks at Aviva Stadium.

Ireland 18 New Zealand 38

AS A rule, there are better ways to spend an evening than driving two hours on unfamiliar roads to spend 80 minutes freezing in a stadium as rain smashes horizontally into your face, before turning around and driving back across the country again.

New Zealand lock Brad Thorn has been ruled out of tomorrow’s match with Ireland having failed to recover from a hamstring strain.

YOU wouldn’t catch Declan Kidney reminiscing about his coaching career two days before a major Test, but Graham Henry had no qualms about strolling down memory lane yesterday ahead of a game that promises to hold special significance for the All Blacks.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named his side to face Ireland in the 2010 Guinness Series at the Aviva Stadium.

JUST as Scottish rugby was beginning to feel good about itself again after a string of impressive winning performances against Ireland and a double away to Argentina, the All Blacks came to town.

Former New Zealand rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams will make his All Blacks Test debut against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Former rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams has been named in New Zealand’s 30-man squad for their end-of-season tour of the northern hemisphere but there is no place for Aaron Cruden, Robbie Fruean or Colin Slade.

John Afoa, Corey Flynn, Liam Messam and Ma'a Nonu have been recalled to the New Zealand squad for the Tri-Nations series with Australia and South Africa.

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw is confident the wholesale changes to the team this week will not lead to a drop in standards in the second Test against Wales on Saturday.

Dan Carter is one of several New Zealand players in doubt for Saturday’s series finale against Wales in Hamilton.

Keven Mealamu is under no illusions that the Tri-Nations series will present far greater challenges for New Zealand than they have encountered against either Ireland or Wales so far this month.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry expects Wales to be breathing fire next weekend after being humbled 42-9 by the All Blacks in Dunedin on Saturday.

Israel Dagg, Benson Stanley and Ben Franks will make their New Zealand Test debuts against Ireland on Saturday after being named in a new-look starting line-up for the one-off match in New Plymouth.

NEW ZEALAND are almost certain to be without three of their first-choice players for the one-off Test against Ireland next week, assistant coach Wayne Smith has said.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry clearly has one eye on the future when naming rising stars Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg and Victor Vito in his squad for Tests against Ireland and Wales next month.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry had one eye on the future when he named rising stars Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg and Victor Vito in his squad for Tests against Ireland and Wales next month.

Barbarians 25 New Zealand 18

NEW ZEALAND rugby coach Graham Henry has made three changes from the team that beat England 19-6 for Saturday’s Test against France in Marseille.

GRAHAM HENRY came close to killing Ireland with kindness yesterday, love-bombing Declan Kidney and his team with the sort of flattery that would make the worst egotist blush.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has given Ireland full respect by going for his strongest available side ahead of the meeting with Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named seven new players in his 35-man squad for the autumn tour to Hong Kong and Europe.

Brad Thorn, Sitiveni Sivivatu and captain Richie McCaw have been recalled to the New Zealand starting line-up for the Tri-Nations decider against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.

The South African team hailed the influence of John Smit after their historic 30-28 victory against New Zealand today.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry has refused to get into a war of words with South Africa counterpart Peter de Villiers after the latter accused the All Blacks of cheating in the scrums.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has made two changes to his starting line-up for the second match of the Tri-Nations against world champions South Africa on Saturday.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has made four changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s second Test against England in Christchurch.

Anthony Tuitavake will make his New Zealand debut on Saturday after being selected on the wing to play in the one-off Test against Ireland in Wellington.

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.