NEW ZEALAND will monitor Dan Carter’s fitness closely after selecting him for Saturday’s World Cup clash with France in Cardiff.

AS EXPECTED, coach Graham Henry has made a number of changes to the All Black team that enjoyed a big win over Italy last Saturday for this weekend’s meeting with World Cup minnows Portugal.

New Zealand may be heavy favourites to win the World Cup, but they are taking all the pressure in their stride ahead of their opening Pool C game against Italy in Marseille tomorrow.

New Zealand lock Keith Robinson has been ruled out of Saturday’s World Cup opener against Italy with a calf strain.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry will keep faith with the bulk of his Tri-Nations winning-squad when the World Cup favourites pursue glory in France this autumn.

Former New Zealand captain Reuben Thorne has been recalled to the All Blacks side for their Tri-Nations clash with South Africa in his home city of Christchurch on Saturday.

New Zealand and South Africa have received injury setbacks ahead of Saturday’s Tri-Nations clash at Christchurch.

Wellington forwards John Schwalger and Ross Filipo will make their New Zealand debuts against Canada in Hamilton on Saturday.

Second-row pair Greg Rawlinson and Ross Filipo will join the New Zealand senior squad this week after injuries to Ali Williams and Keith Robinson.

THE ALL BLACKS have been forced to call up the seventh and eighth locks on their pecking order yesterday, after Ali Williams and Keith Robinson joined a growing list of seriously injured middle row forwards.

New Zealand 61 France 10

Nick Evans has replaced fly-half Dan Carter in the New Zealand starting line-up for the second Test against France in Wellington on Saturday.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has made six changes to his starting line-up for the second Test against France in Wellington on Saturday.

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.

WALES lock Ian Gough has dubbed New Zealand “honest cheaters” just four days before the two countries clash at the Millennium Stadium.

New Zealand head coach Graham Henry has made seven changes for Saturday’s clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

New Zealand’s new line-out leader Keith Robinson is demanding more from the All Black pack despite their record win at Twickenham.

NEW ZEALAND boss Graham Henry claims the Twickenham factor makes a mockery of suggestions that stricken England will be crushed by the All Blacks on Sunday.

Waikato lock Keith Robinson has capped a dream comeback with selection for New Zealand’s November tour.

Jobs in the financial services sector in Britain are being filled faster than at any time since 2000, reflecting the growing confidence in the market, a survey revealed today.

JOBS in Dublin’s financial services sector are filling at their fastest rate in five years, as salaries increase by more than 10% in just one month.

A UNITED NATIONS official said yesterday that Iraq’s recent parliamentary elections, which have given a strong lead to the Shi’ite religious bloc dominating the current government, were credible and that there was there was no justification in calls for a rerun.

Inmates stormed a prison armoury in Baghdad today, with one grabbing an AK-47 rifle from a guard and firing indiscriminately, killing eight people.

Clive Woodward launched his first media campaign of the tour just a day before the Lions face their biggest challenge yet by calling for touch-judges to stop interfering in the referee’s business.

Lions captain Brian O’Driscoll would hate to have to prove his Test credentials in an 80-minute trial match against team-mates and close rivals.

New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup with victory over Australia in wet and windy Wellington today.

Australia coach Eddie Jones may have branded New Zealand cheats but All Blacks coach Graham Henry has been nothing but complimentary to the Wallabies.

England coach Clive Woodward is expected to be censured by the International Rugby Board for criticising match officials after the New Zealand Rugby Union yesterday sent the governing body a videotape of last Saturday night’s media conference in Auckland.

Australia coach Eddie Jones yesterday warned England his side would not shy away from any physical confrontation in Saturday’s World Cup final rematch.

England lock Simon Shaw has been cleared of foul play after he was sent off in yesterday’s second Test defeat against New Zealand.

England coach Clive Woodward claimed lock Simon Shaw should not have been sent off as the World Cup winners lost 36-12 to New Zealand in Eden Park.

New Zealand 36-12 England

New Zealand 10-06 England H/T

Andrew Mehrtens’ renaissance continued when he was named in the 26-man New Zealand squad to face England in two Tests.

EUGENE DONNELLY and co-driver Paddy Toner, in their Envirocare Subaru WRC, dominated the Hotel Kilmore Cavan Rally — the fourth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in association with Bord Fáilte, gets the green light in Mondello Park this weekend.

NEW ZEALAND have named five new caps in a side featuring 10 changes for Saturday’s clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

Christian Cullen, the leading try-scorer in New Zealand's Test history, is back at full-back this Saturday's clash with the high-riding French team at the Stade de France in Paris.

EXPERIMENT against Fiji, perhaps, but Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan has gone with his tried and trusted internationals for the first of the autumn tests against world champions Australia on Saturday at Lansdowne Road.

New Zealand have named a 26-man squad for their three Autumn Test matches in Europe next month.