NEW ZEALAND are not exactly the ideal visitors for a team scrambling for form and confidence, but All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith is of the belief Ireland are far from the fading force their results would suggest.

Scotland 3 New Zealand 49

Former rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams has been named in New Zealand’s 30-man squad for their end-of-season tour of the northern hemisphere but there is no place for Aaron Cruden, Robbie Fruean or Colin Slade.

Tamati Ellison’s chances of making the New Zealand squad for the upcoming end of year tour have been given a big boost following Isaia Toeava’s latest stress fracture injury.

New Zealand 33 Australia 6

Stephen Donald will start at inside centre for New Zealand in Saturday’s Tri-Nations showdown with South Africa in Hamilton.

The absence of injured duo Luke McAlister and Conrad Smith has left New Zealand's coaches with a selection headache ahead of next month's Tri-Nations Tests against South Africa and Australia.

New Zealand 19 Australia 14

AUSTRALIA and New Zealand yesterday squabbled over their line-ups for this weekend’s Bledisloe Cup match with the All Blacks claiming star player Dan Carter was being deliberately targeted.

New Zealand 85 Romania 8

New Zealand 108 Portugal 13

AUSTRALIA have recalled full-back Chris Latham for the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup showdown against the All Blacks in Auckland 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 61 France 10

Blues coach David Nucifora has tipped centre Isaia Toeava and captain Troy Flavell for international recalls when the first New Zealand squad of the season is named on Friday.

New Zealand got their Tri-Nations campaign off to a positive start by cruising to victory over Australia in the opening game of this year’s series in Christchurch.

SOUTH African-born lock Greg Rawlinson has been called into the New Zealand squad ahead of their Tests against Ireland and Argentina.

NEW ZEALAND centre Conrad Smith expects little-known teenage All Black Isaia Toeava to begin his path to super-stardom at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Versatility and a focus on improving the depth of talent have been the key elements in the New Zealand squad named by Graham Henry for their tour of Britain and Ireland next month.