Bordeaux-Begles 15, Racing 92 9: Ian Madigan said he has settled in well in Bordeaux after leaving Leinster and is delighted to have made a winning start to his Top 14 career. The 27-year old was the star of the show as Bordeaux-Begles made an opening night win over holders, with Madigan outscoring Dan Carter five penalties to three.

Racing 29 Toulon 21: An incredible 14-man defensive stand added to some ice-cool kicking allowed Racing 92 and former Ireland icon Ronan O’Gara to secure their first Top 14 title in 26 years.

Five-try Racing extended their advantage at the summit of the Top 14 with a bonus-point 39-35 triumph, as late tries from Xavier Chauveau and Joe Rokocoko broke Grenoble’s stubborn resistance.

Northampton 9 Racing 92 9: Northampton’s England contingent failed to make an impression as Eddie Jones resumed his busy pre-Christmas scouting tour of the Aviva Premiership clubs last night.

Nearly seven years on, Joe Rokocoko returns to Limerick, hoping the Thomond Park faithful will have forgiven if not forgotten.

All Blacks legend Joe Rokocoko is set to make his first return to Thomond Park since scoring the winning try against Munster seven years ago after being confirmed for the Barbarians squad to face an Ireland XV in Limerick on May 28.

If yesterday’s press briefing was anything to go by then the Kiwi public have already lost interest in the Irish challenge on what is fast becoming a tour from hell.

All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko insists New Zealand’s immaculate record against the Home Unions under coach Graham Henry does not diminish the achievement of completing a successful Grand Slam tour.

ROBBIE DEANS has faced pressure before, but the vultures are circling after Saturday’s disaster in Melbourne.

Australia 28 New Zealand 49

New Zealand have banned the photographer who took a shot of a sheet of team tactics being held by coach Graham Henry at training from their remaining sessions.

AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans has backed the new-look midfield combination of Berrick Barnes and Matt Giteau to thrive ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster clash against New Zealand in Melbourne.

New Zealand have made two changes ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia in Melbourne, with Jimmy Cowan and Joe Rokocoko both promoted to the starting line-up.

SOUTH AFRICA lock Bakkies Botha has apologised to his team-mates after being banned for his head-butt on New Zealand scrum-half Jimmy Cowan.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has defended the selection of under-fire winger Joe Rokocoko in his squad for the Tri-Nations opener against South Africa next weekend.

New Zealand 42 Wales 9

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 coach Graham Henry clearly has one eye on the future when naming rising stars Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg and Victor Vito in his squad for Tests against Ireland and Wales next month.

New Zealand 33 Australia 6

Hosea Gear is looking forward to getting some game time with the Wellington Lions after a frustrating few weeks on the sidelines with New Zealand.

JOE ROKOCOKO is hoping that playing on the drier rugby fields of South Africa will help improve his current slump in form when New Zealand face the Springboks in Bloemfontein tomorrow (4pm).

Joe Rokocoko is hoping that playing on the drier rugby fields of South Africa will help improve his current slump in form when New Zealand face the Springboks in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has made two changes to his team for the Tri-Nations match against South Africa on Saturday, both coming in the backline where Joe Rokocoko and Brendon Leonard have been drafted in.

New Zealand 27 Italy 6

New Zealand 14 France 10

AUSTRALIA ended their six-match tour with a hard-fought 18-11 win over the Barbarians in the Olympic Centenary match at Wembley last night.

NEW Zealand media outlets were loud in their praise for Munster’s heroic efforts on Tuesday night.

Munster 16 New Zealand 18

THE GREAT New Zealand wing Joe Rokocoko is the only starting member of Saturday’s All Blacks XV at Croke Park included in the lineup for tomorrow night’s clash with Munster at Thomond Park.

Joe Rokocoko has been ruled out of New Zealand’s Test series against Ireland and England after undergoing surgery on a wrist injury.

FRANCE captain Lionel Nallet preferred to dwell on his team’s victory over Italy rather than the prospect of registering a heavy win against Wales next weekend to retain the RBS 6 Nations Championship title.

Barbarians 22 South Africa 5

New Zealand 85 Romania 8

NOT TOO long ago, things weren’t looking good for Doug Howlett. Though long established on the All-Blacks side, when Graham Henry picked a squad to go on a reconditioning programme — a squad seen as a definite World Cup indicator — Doug was a shock omission. Few were more surprised than the man himself.

As the peerless Dan Carter’s perennial understudy for New Zealand, Nick Evans will always be swimming against the tide but he insists he is not willing to settle for second best at the World Cup.

New Zealand 108 Portugal 13

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.

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

New Zealand 33 South Africa 6

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

ENGLAND’S record Twickenham crowd of 82,000 witnessed a record-breaking occasion — but for all the wrong reasons as New Zealand underlined their credentials as overwhelming World Cup favourites.