After the weeks of verbal jousting started by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and latterly engaged in by Lions boss Warren Gatland, the pair of New Zealanders have finally found some common ground.

New Zealand will be hoping to avoid another Halloween horror show when they face World Cup final opponents Australia.

Wilson Whineray, acclaimed by many as the All Blacks’ greatest ever captain, has died in Auckland after a battle with cancer. He was 77.

If first impressions count, then new Munster rugby coach Rob Penney got off to a flyer yesterday at his official unveiling, apologising to the assembled hacks for arriving a few minutes late.

A TACKLE hasn’t even been made in the World Cup and the All Blacks are defending themselves from claims they are blatant cheats.

Colin Charvis admitted to being “extremely flattered” by the ringing endorsement he received last week from legendary New Zealand forward Colin Meads.

THE Irish coach, Eddie O’Sullivan, is looking forward to welcoming back stalwarts Malcolm O’Kelly, Simon Easterby and Frankie Sheahan for the autumn international series of games.

CLIVE Woodward’s old sparring partner, the Australia coach Eddie Jones, has backed his decision to take a 26-strong management team on next summer’s Lions tour to New Zealand.

FORMER Wallabies coach Alan Jones has joined the growing chorus Down Under backing England to win the World Cup.

THE meal that poisoned a group of senior All Blacks before the 1995 Rugby World Cup final was eaten at a restaurant outside the team hotel, a hotel executive has claimed.

IT’S the great Malcolm O’Kelly debate.

WINGER Jonah Lomu has angered some of New Zealand’s most famous rugby union players for refusing to sign a book commemorating the 100 greatest All Blacks.