HE’S a thief, a cheat, a master of skullduggery, a guy who does his best work in dark and hidden spaces, away from human eye.

New Zealand have been forced to make late changes to their side for tomorrow’s World Cup Pool C encounter with Italy in Marseille.

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.

THERE were a few surprises in the All Black side announced to face Italy in their opening game of the Rugby World Cup in Marseille on Saturday.

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.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry insists the changes he has made for Saturday’s crunch Tri-Nations clash with Australia will benefit the team in the World Cup.

AUSTRALIA have recalled full-back Chris Latham for the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup showdown against the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday.

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.

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

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 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.

The two leading New Zealand franchises have adopted different approaches to reintroducing their returning All Blacks to Super 14 action.

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw insists the All Blacks must emulate World Champions England's planning to translate their pre-eminent position in world rugby into silverware.

New Zealand have called up prop John Afoa and Waikato flanker Marty Holah for their second test against South Africa at Rustenberg.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry has made eight changes from the All Blacks side which beat Australia for the Tri-Nations game against South Africa in Wellington.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has made eight changes from the All Blacks side that beat Australia in the starting 15 for the Tri-Nations game against South Africa in Wellington.

There were few surprises in the New Zealand squad named to face Australia in Christchurch on Saturday.

FORMER New Zealand winger Stu Wilson has hailed the performances of the Australia backline ahead of the Bledisloe Cup triple header, claiming the Wallabies are favourites.

New Zealand lock Jono Gibbes will leave the touring squad on Sunday after failing to recover from a torn calf muscle.

FORMER All Black captain Reuben Thorne will join the New Zealand squad as cover for injured forward Jono Gibbes for Saturday’s game with Italy in Rome.

Kiwis Reuben Thorne and Justin Marshall were among eight players included in the Barbarians squad to face New Zealand at Twickenham next month.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry was true to his word yesterday when he named his team to face England in Dunedin on Saturday.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry was true to his word today when he named his team to face England in Dunedin on Saturday.

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

NEW All -Black coach Graham Henry hardly waited for the ink to dry on his contract yesterday before saying there were changes coming to New Zealand rugby.

THE battle lines were drawn yesterday for Saturday’s World Cup final as England and Australia named their sides.

New Zealand coach John Mitchell insisted his team were not "chokers" after they had blown their World Cup dream once more, and vowed not to resign.

New Zealand 10 Australia 22

Reuben Thorne will take on the role of New Zealand’s Minister of Finance for 80 minutes tomorrow when the All Blacks clash with Australia in the first World Cup semi-final.

ALL BLACK captain Reuben Thorne paused and broke into a rare smile.

NEW ZEALAND captain Reuben Thorne refuses to buy into the relentless media attacks on the All Blacks’ semi-final opponents, declaring: “Anyone who writes off Australia is a fool.”

New Zealand captain Reuben Thorne refuses to buy into the relentless media attacks on the All Blacks’ semi-final opponents, declaring: “Anyone who writes off Australia is a fool“.

New Zealand 53 Wales 37

A FEW months ago, Leon MacDonald hardly dared imagine he would be in New Zealand’s World Cup squad, never mind heading into their biggest game of the tournament so far holding down a position he has not played since junior rugby.

A few months ago, Leon MacDonald hardly dared imagine he would be in New Zealand’s World Cup squad, never mind heading into their biggest game of the tournament so far holding down a position he has not played since junior rugby.

Hard-hitting number eight Jerry Collins returned to the New Zealand starting line-up today as All Blacks coach John Mitchell named his strongest available side to face Wales on Sunday.

New Zealand coach John Mitchell insisted the Canadians had given his side an ideal work-out in Melbourne today, despite the All Blacks running up another big score.

Flying winger Joe Rokocoko smashed a New Zealand try-scoring record as the All Blacks struck an emphatic first blow in their World Cup campaign with a free-scoring rout of Italy.

The day after hosts Australia got the defence of their World Cup crown off to a winning start, the side favoured by bookies to dethrone them, New Zealand, launched their own campaign against Italy in Melbourne.

A Reuben Thorne try has extended New Zealand's lead over Italy in today's Pool D Rugby World Cup clash.

New Zealand coach John Mitchell insisted the All Blacks have “everything to gain” from their four Pool D clashes despite expectations they will breeze through to the quarter-finals without breaking stride.

New Zealand will leave it until the last minute to decide on the fitness of lock Ali Williams ahead of the World Cup.