Joe Schmidt wasn't having any of Steve Hansen's mind games after Ireland saw off the All Blacks last November.

Maybe it says everything about the way the All Blacks are that the day after they learned their final pool game against Italy had been cancelled, they woke up super early and battered themselves senseless in a training game.

New Zealand press not giving Joe Schmidt's side much chance of causing an upset.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen named four uncapped players in an extended 39-man squad for the Rugby Championship as he looks to finalise his World Cup selections over the next six weeks.

Leinster may be the best side in Europe over the course of the season, but the notion that they are invincible ignores those human traits — thoroughbreds or not, says Ronan O’Gara.

Beauden, Jordie, and Scott Barrett will become the first trio of brothers to start a Test together for the All Blacks when they line up in the series-opener against France at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday.

That drawn series was undoubtedly my rugby highlight of the year, writes Donal Lenihan

New Zealand became the first team in international rugby to cross for 2,000 Test tries as they secured a 38-18 victory over France, who produced a spirited second-half display in Paris.

Tadhg Furlong has warned the British and Irish Lions to prepare for the "most brutal" Test match of their careers in Saturday's series decider with New Zealand.

Donal Lenihan looks at three key areas the Lions must address.

Robbie Henshaw insists New Zealand do not overstep rugby's physical boundaries as the war of words around Conor Muray's Test match treatment rages on.

New Zealand 30

Kieran Read has recovered from injury and will captain New Zealand in Saturday's first Test against the British and Irish Lions.

Andy Farrell would be "more than comfortable" if Peter O'Mahony captained the British and Irish Lions in Saturday's first Test against New Zealand.

Joe Schmidt believes the intervention of World Rugby referees’ chief Alain Rolland will help prevent a repeat of the controversies that marred Ireland’s rematch with New Zealand last weekend.

The French for goal is ‘but’. I’m not a fan of the English equivalent of the spelling.

Referee Jaco Peyper is a full- time, paid official, and must be accountable for his performance, writes Donal Lenihan.

Lost amid the furore over All Black indiscipline and the performances of both referee and TMO at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday was the latest damning evidence that players are all too often their own worst enemies.

Less on the scoreboard than in Soldier Field maybe, but Saturday’s renewal between Ireland and New Zealand matched the drama of Chicago in pretty much every other way and even sprinkled a painful dose of controversial incidents along the way with it.

RTE's interview with New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen after Ireland's 21-9 defeat to the All Blacks was very awkward.

Here's how we rated the players at tonight's clash at the Aviva.

The key moment, talking point and key man from the clash at the Aviva.

Italy 10, New Zealand 68: Conor O’Shea’s mantra since day one of his Italian job has been “Rome was not built in day”. The 10-try drubbing on Saturday seemed like a reminder it only took the Goths three days to destroy it.

Joe Schmidt isn’t the only one looking forward to seeing his charges face the best side in the world twice over the next few weeks.

Soldier Field, Chicago. The All Blacks. Rarely has one game and one venue captured the imagination in the manner of Ireland’s upcoming meeting with New Zealand in the Windy City. 

There was relief all round for Michael Cheika and his Wallabies after they secured their first win in seven test matches with a sometimes nervous win over S Africa in Brisbane on Saturday.

Israel Dagg scored two first-half tries as New Zealand made it back-to-back wins over defending champions Australia in the Rugby Championship.

World Cups can be yawn-inducing events for players who have so much time to kill between their daily duties and Steve Hansen’s All Blacks could do worse than spend an afternoon staring at the walls of their Lensbury Park Hotel.

Sonny Bill Williams made an instant impact as New Zealand opened their World Cup defence with victory against Argentina, but says there is plenty of work to do.

New Zealand 26 Argentina 16: World champions New Zealand got the defence of their crown off to a winning start, but not until shaking off a terrible opening period in front of a Rugby World Cup record crowd at Wembley yesterday.

New Zealanders have been fretting just a little about this emotional Carter and McCaw farewell storyline. Is this World Cup one tour too many for the pair of them? Ian Chadband finds out

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.

Sonny Bill Williams scored twice on his All Blacks return as New Zealand thrashed the United States 74-6 at Soldier Field, Chicago.