All Blacks

Fifita, 27, has travelled with the All Blacks to Perth for this weekend’s Test against the Wallabies, despite the loss of his brother Albert John Mapa, who drowned in the Provo River.

As Kaniva news reported last week, Mapa, who was also known as AJ, reportedly jumped off a pedestrian bridge into the water behind the dam.

Family and friends who were with him in the area told officials they could see Mapa “appeared to be in trouble,” a press release said.

Search and Rescue crews found his body more than three hours later.

If the pair are to have any chance of earning a recall for the All Blacks' title defence at the Rugby World Cup in Japan they will have to produce outstanding performances for Taranaki in the Mitre 10 Cup and also hope injuries strike the national side.

Right wing Naholo and halfback Tahuriorangi were unable to do enough to impress the All Blacks selectors during the Super Rugby season, and as a consequence their chances of being invited to the World Cup plunged.

The midfielder rarely uses Twitter to respond to media stories about him, but Williams was clearly fired up, saying those who say he's under pressure need to 'get their priorities right.'

Williams wrote that playing sport for a living can't be compared to those who are struggling to deal with far bigger problems.

"And for those that say I'm under pressure playing a game that I enjoy," Williams wrote. 

"Get your priorities right. Look at what's going on in the world.

A South African supporter spotted All Blacks fullback Barrett nudging the ball with his foot while referee Nic Berry had his back turned during the 16-all draw in the Cake Tin last weekend, and posted TV footage of the incident on social media.

Feedback from fans online didn't lack heat.

Those players now look to be out of the running for Rugby World Cup spots unless there are injuries during the tests against the Wallabies.  

The omission of Tu'inukuafe comes just one year after he took test rugby by storm with his powerful scrummaging, but the Blues loosehead did not play a lot of rugby in the second half of the Super Rugby season.

Athough Ioane has been omitted, he will assemble with the squad to continue his development behind Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga.

Pieter van der Spuy spotted the All Blacks star stealing metres behind the referee's back prior to his one successful penalty kick in the team's 16-16 draw with the Springboks on Saturday.

All Blacks captain Kieran Read opted for a shot at the posts when referee Nic Berry awarded New Zealand a penalty near the 22m line in the 48th minute of the match. But, as van der Spuy pointed out when he posted the video on Twitter, Barrett rolled the ball approximately four metres closer to the posts when Berry's back was turned.

The fan has made a personal injury claim after being struck by a ball during Ireland's historic 16-9 win over the All Blacks in Dublin on November 17, 2018. 

According to The Times, the case is one of two lodged by separate female fans against the IRFU and New Stadium DAC, who operate the Aviva Stadium. Both were hit in the head by balls players had booted into the stands.

The other incident was during a European Champions Cup game between Munster and Saracens on April 22, 2017.

Retallick was cleared out in a ruck by Springboks opposite RG Snyman and landed awkwardly on his left shoulder. He was in visible pain as he walked off in the 61st minute of the 16-16 draw in Wellington.

Hansen did not give a timeline for his return to reporters on Sunday but sounded optimistic the former World Player of the Year would be fit to travel to Japan for the Sept. 20-Nov. 2 showpiece.

"Hopefully he will be available for the World Cup. He is one of our best players so that's good," the coach said.

Cruden quit New Zealand rugby in 2017 for a three-year deal with Top 14 club Montpellier worth a reported $3.6 million.

The 30-year-old first five-eighth has signed on again - but only until November - as a 'medical joker' to cover the club until the end of the Rugby World Cup tournament in Japan.

A Planet Rugby report claimed Cruden - a former Chiefs captain - could be a target for the Hurricanes, who have lost All Blacks star Beauden Barrett to the Blues.

The other round two game saw Australia beat Argentina 16-10 in Brisbane.

The All Blacks led 16-9 as replacement scrum-half Jantjies, who had two tries on his debut in last week's win over Australia, crossed at the death.

Handre Pollard added the conversion to tie the game and keep the Springboks top of the table with one round to go.

All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick suffered a dislocated shoulder in Wellington but is expected to be fit in time for the World Cup, which starts in Japan on 20 September.