If you’re an All Black waiting to hear if you’ve made the World Cup squad, the one name you don’t want to see on your mobile phone is Steve Hansen’s.

The growing Munster contingent in Pau is settling into life in the top flight in France and showed at the weekend they have what it takes to cut it amongst the best in the richest rugby league in the world.

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.”

Defending champions New Zealand have announced their 31-man squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, with Waisake Naholo included but Israel Dagg and Cory Jane among those to miss out.

If individual awards — Player of the Month, Man of the Match and the like — are an indication of the impact made by James Coughlan in his first season playing French rugby, then the boy has done well.

Stuart Lancaster has no qualms about picking Anthony Watson on the right wing for tomorrow’s QBE International against South Africa and believes he is ready for his first Test start.

Australia 28 New Zealand 29

Fasten the seat-belt and take a firm grip of something solid, suggests Donal Lenihan.

Beauden Barrett inspired New Zealand to a thumping 28-9 win over Argentina in the Rugby Championship at McLean Park, Napier.

Munster put some gloss on a losing weekend yesterday when the province announced the capture of former New Zealand Junior World Cup-winning captain Tyler Bleyendaal on a three-year contract.

Gentleman, that he is, Beaumont whispers to Moss “may the best team win”.

New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter will take a six-month sabbatical following the All Blacks’ European tour in November.

First the good news. New Zealand are in disarray or at least they should be.

At a time of year when things should be slowing down, last week proved one of the busiest for those charged with the responsibility of running the game in Munster.

Israel Dagg has revealed New Zealand’s sense of “great relief” at ending a 24-year wait to be crowned world champions.

WITH a perfect sense of timing, today is a bank holiday in New Zealand.

UNLIKELY hero Stephen Donald has started taking stock of his World Cup final-winning exploits, and admitted: “It is an unreal experience.”

NEW ZEALAND captain Richie McCaw hailed his team’s courage and desire after they ended 24 years of hurt by winning the closest final in World Cup history.

THE All Blacks never forgave Stephen Donald for the missed touch kick which ultimately condemned them to defeat by Australia in Hong Kong this time last year.

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw hailed his team’s courage and desire after they ended 24 years of hurt by winning the closest final in World Cup history.

France 7 New Zealand 8

France 0 New Zealand 5

THE bigger the game, the smaller the margins and the fewer the chances: never was that more obvious that in Saturday’s Wales-France semi-final.

NEW ZEALAND head coach Graham Henry hailed the All Blacks’ 20-6 destruction of Australia in the Rugby World Cup semi-final as “outstanding”.

New Zealand 20 Australia 6

Australia full-back Kurtley Beale has been ruled out of the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup semi-final against New Zealand with a hamstring strain.

IF THERE is one thing the All Blacks appreciate more than any other aspect of the game, it is the importance of controlling the breakdown.

ALEX FERGUSON, who has enjoyed a bit of success over the years, would call this “squeaky bum time.”

JUST in case New Zealand were lacking a bit of inspiration ahead of their World Cup semi-final meeting with Australia, Quade Cooper provided it.

Injured New Zealand backs Colin Slade and Mils Muliaina have been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand 33 Argentina 10

NEW ZEALAND fly-half Colin Slade is eager to grasp his opportunity to steer the All Blacks to the Rugby World Cup semi-final in tomorrow’s (8.30am Irish time) clash with Argentina in Auckland.

New Zealand full-back Mils Muliaina is focused on the task in hand when he wins his 100th Test cap in Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final with Argentina.

FOR all the talents at the disposal of New Zealand coach Graeme Henry, you’d be tempted to bet he may have cast an envious eye south to Wellington this week and wished he had the half-back headaches Declan Kidney says he has been grappling with.

I ARRIVED in Wellington with the Irish team on Monday morning to be greeted by gale force winds and torrential rain.

NEW ZEALAND assistant coach Wayne Smith insists the belief in the All Blacks camp and in fly-half Colin Slade is high following Dan Carter’s World Cup-ending injury.

Fly-half Dan Carter has urged New Zealanders to move on from his World Cup-ending injury and throw their full support behind the All Blacks.

AS a New Zealander, it’s been hard these past 24 hours to concentrate on anything but the tournament-ending injury suffered by Dan Carter at training on Saturday. The photos of him lying on the ground in obvious agony had already warned New Zealanders that the news would not be good.

NEW ZEALAND rolled over Canada in their World Cup encounter in Pool A in Wellington but the performance of Dan Carter’s replacement gave the All Blacks cause for concern.

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.

New Zealand 79 Canada 15

New Zealand today suffered a second blow ahead of their final World Cup Pool A clash with Canada after Dan Carter was forced to withdraw.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry praised an impressive showing by Sonny Bill Williams after the All Blacks romped to an 83-7 victory over Japan at Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium yesterday.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry praised an impressive showing by Sonny Bill Williams after the All Blacks romped to an 83-7 victory over Japan at Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium.