New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has drafted in seven new caps for the forthcoming Steinlager Series of three Test matches against Ireland.

New Zealand have announced a 35-player squad to attend two training camps ahead of the three-Test Series against Ireland in June.

SUNDAY’S World Cup final was a pleasure to behold for many reasons, not least the honesty of endeavour and the sportsmanship on display from both sides.

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

THE All Blacks are just 80 minutes away from a €1.75m payday.

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

A number of New Zealand fringe players have been given their chance to impress along with a solid mix of experience for Friday’s World Cup opener against Tonga.

NEW ZEALAND have named what appears to be their first-choice side for Saturday’s Tri-Nations decider against the Wallabies.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has announced his 30-man squad for the Rugby World Cup with no place for quintet Sitiveni Sivivatu, Wyatt Crockett, Liam Messam, Jarrad Hoeata and Hosea Gear.

JOE SCHMIDT savoured a major success in his first season as a head coach and hailed Heineken Cup final man of the match Jonny Sexton as one of the reasons he joined Leinster last summer.

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.

South Africa 22 New Zealand 29

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.

NEW ZEALAND have made three changes to the side that hammered Australia 49-28 in Melbourne on Saturday for this weekend’s return match in Christchurch.

New Zealand have made three changes to the side that hammered Australia 49-28 in Melbourne on Saturday for this weekend's return match in Christchurch.

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.

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.

AUSTRALIA scrum-half star Will Genia gets the chance today (11.05am Irish time) to do what he loves doing best – beating England.

Daniel Carter’s self-proclaimed “patchy” form in the Super 14 has not lulled Ireland into a false sense of security heading into Saturday’s one-off Test against New Zealand.

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 have lost another midfield prospect for their upcoming Test matches against Ireland and Wales with Richard Kahui ruled out for three weeks with a rib cartilage injury.

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.

I have learned through harsh experience that every Australian side will fight to the death.

AUSTRALIA have quickly turned their attentions to their forthcoming tour of Britain and Ireland after coming up short against New Zealand for the fourth time this year.

New Zealand assistant coach Steve Hansen had no argument with the one-match bans handed out to prop Tony Woodcock and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu following Saturday's 32-19 victory against Australia in Tokyo.

New Zealand 33 Australia 6

New Zealand 29 South Africa 32

Stephen Donald will start at inside centre for New Zealand in Saturday’s Tri-Nations showdown with South Africa in Hamilton.

The absence of injured duo Luke McAlister and Conrad Smith has left New Zealand's coaches with a selection headache ahead of next month's Tri-Nations Tests against South Africa and Australia.

Fears that Luke McAlister would be forced to withdraw from the New Zealand side to take on Australia in the Tri-Nations this weekend have abated.

Daniel Carter has been named in the New Zealand starting XV for Saturday’s must-win Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia in Sydney.

New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs says they have no regrets about re-appointing All Blacks coaches Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith.

SCHALK BURGER has been recalled to the South Africa squad for the next stage of their Tri-Nations campaign, following the eight-week ban he picked up during the British and Irish Lions tour of the country.

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw is suffering from a nerve problem in his neck which is likely to prevent him from playing any rugby prior to the All Blacks’ next Test against Australia on August 22.

New Zealand 22 France 27

Dan Carter has successfully undergone surgery on an Achilles tendon injury that brought his sabbatical at Perpignan to a premature end.

Dan Carter will liaise with New Zealand’s medical staff to ascertain whether he requires surgery on the Achilles tendon injury that has ended not only his season but also his time in France with Perpignan.

NEW Zealand star Daniel Carter yesterday took part in his first training session with French side Perpignan.

New Zealand star Daniel Carter today took part in his first training session with French side Perpignan.

THERE was a sharp edge to Declan Kidney’s tone that we don’t often hear after Saturday’s defeat by the All Blacks.

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.

MILS MULIAINA will go straight into New Zealand’s test team against Ireland next Saturday as the All Blacks look to stiffen their selections for the most difficult tests of the tour.

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