Argentinian’s transformation of Aussie scrum means Welsh pack must up game, says Baldwin...

New Zealand’s players insist they are not upset by former England scrum-half Matt Dawson’s ’Hakarena’ video, poking fun at traditional war dance the Haka.

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.

Former All Blacks rugby star Jerry Collins and his wife Alana Madill have died after their car was hit by a bus on a road outside the southern French town of Beziers.

For some, the sight of Jared Payne, Richardt Strauss and Rodney Ah You in an Irish shirt will never sit right, but all three will stand for the anthems tomorrow before Joe Schmidt’s side gets to grips with South Africa at Lansdowne Road.

Make all the noises you want about the team, and the match, and the result, rather it being Brian O’Driscoll’s final international — O’Driscoll himself certainly did so all last week — but there’s no point in being reasonable.

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has warned his players to expect Brian O’Driscoll to have a massive impact on tomorrow’s Test against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

Andrew Hore has been named to start against Ireland in what could possibly be his last All Blacks Test.

New Zealand have selected uncapped scrum half TJ Perenara ahead of veteran Piri Weepu in their squad for the Investec Rugby Championship.

After months of speculation, the advancement of improbable bolters and the decline of one-time certainties, Warren Gatland will today reveal his British & Lions squad for Australia.

Fourth in the table, one victory from four games and safety from the wooden spoon is not yet guaranteed. It has hardly been a Six Nations to savour for Declan Kidney’s men but tomorrow’s meeting with fifth place Italy is far from a dead rubber, not least because it could be the last time we see Ireland’s greatest ever player take to the field in a green jersey.

Brian O’Driscoll has given his most definitive admission yet that the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations could be his final championship.

New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter will start Saturday’s clash with England at Twickenham after winning his injury battle.

Kieran Read will captain New Zealand for the first time when the All Blacks tackle Italy on Saturday.

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

All Blacks veteran Keven Mealamu is facing a battle to keep his place for the June test series 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.

STRANGE in a way that what has been a fantastic tournament has produced a paucity of real individual star quality.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry today named an unchanged team for Sunday’s World Cup final against France at Eden Park.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named an unchanged team for Sunday’s World Cup final against France at Eden Park.

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

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.

THERE was a nasty undertone to Ireland’s victory over the Wallabies last Saturday, if reports in the Antipodean media are to be believed.

THE All Blacks have praised Ireland for knocking the arrogance out of the Tri Nations sides following their victory over Australia on Saturday.

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.

New Zealand 83 Japan 7

New Zealand 38 Japan 0

New Zealand head coach Graham Henry insisted he was not prepared to gamble on the fitness of captain Richie McCaw and full-back Mils Muliaina for the World Cup Pool A clash with Japan in Hamilton.

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

Australia 25 New Zealand 20

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.

A host of fringe players will get the chance to stake a final claim for a place in New Zealand’s World Cup squad after being named in the starting XV for Saturday’s Tri Nations clash with South Africa.

New Zealand 30 Australia 14

THE touch judge who mistakenly advised Jonathan Kaplan to award Wales’ try against Ireland on Saturday is likely to be sanctioned by the IRB today.

NEW ZEALAND’S iconic midfielder Ma’a Nonu has been linked with a move to Munster after World Cup 2011.

New Zealand have restored hooker Keven Mealamu to their starting line-up for Saturday’s potential Grand Slam-clinching clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

PROP Tendai Mtawarira is a doubt for South Africa’s clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday after missing training yesterday with a medial knee ligament strain.

Scotland 3 New Zealand 49

Keven Mealamu will watch from the stand as New Zealand meet Scotland at Murrayfield today, safe in the knowledge that he may still have a part to play in the All Blacks’ bid for the Grand Slam.

NEW ZEALAND will enter the second match of their autumn Grand Slam quest with Scotland today without Keven Mealamu after the hooker’s appeal against his four-week ban was only partially successful.