All Blacks

All Blacks Sevens sign Carlos Spencer's son

Payton is the son of former Blues and All Blacks first-five Carlos Spencer.

All Blacks Sevens head coach Clark Laidlaw said it's great to have the youngsters, who were all at high school last year, in the the squad.

"We are really excited about for the next couple of seasons, these three young players have lots of potential, it will be great to see them develop as rugby players but personally too on and off the field."

After making his mark in rugby league, Tito-Harris has decided to focus on rugby sevens.

One door shuts, another opens for Sowakula

This will be the talented rugby couple’s last summer in New Zealand, leaving for France late next year, after the conclusion of the NPC and FPC seasons.

The past few months have been hard for the family, with Sowakula missing out on national selection.

“It was pretty tough at times,” the 28-year-old admits. “Plans have been put in place to go (to France), and we are doing it together.”

His 22 Test capped Black Fern partner, Natua, agrees.

“The opportunity has been presented, so we are here to make the most of it,” she said.

All Blacks legend Nonu turns hand to conservation project in South Africa

The double World Cup winner, his San Diego Legion teammates, Franklin and Dan Pryor, and Rugby United New York loose forward Kara Pryor worked with Nkombe Rhino, an organisation dedicated to the protection of endangered species.

Nkombe Rhino recently shared images on social media of the quartet’s hands-on effort, which was concluded by a performance of Ka Mate.

Nkombe Rhino wrote on Instagram: “Over the last 8 days, we were privileged to host All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu and Maori All Blacks players Dan Pryor, Tom Franklin and Kara Pryor on a rhino conservation safari!

Kieran Read pinpoints All Blacks' revival

As New Zealand Rugby gets set to decide the future of besieged coach Ian Foster, the respected Read has pointed to his Crusaders connections for orchestrating a change in fortunes for the struggling All Blacks.

Ryan, Scott Robertson’s assistant coach at the Crusaders who was persuaded by Foster to replace John Plumtree, had quickly brought a new attitude to the All Blacks pack that had been shown up by Ireland and France at the end of last year and again exposed by the Irish in the home series defeat in July.

'He is definitely the future': All Blacks new hooker hailed after South Africa tour

Facing the strength of the Springboks and the famed ‘bomb squad’, Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho was a clear stand out performer fighting fire with fire against the Boks pack.

The 25-year-old got the chance to start at hooker in both tests over experienced veterans Codie Taylor and Dane Coles.

Speaking on Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown, former Blues and Leinster midfielder Isa Nacewa said that the explosive No 2 has won the right to keep the jersey going forward.

“In my eyes, he starts,” Nacewa said of the Chiefs hooker.

All Blacks rise in rankings

The All Blacks 35-23 win over the Springboks at Ellis Park has resulted them in overtaking England for fourth spot.

Ireland remain number one from France and South Africa.

The Wallabies record 48-17 loss to Argentina has resulted in them dropping another spot.

Dave Rennie's men were soundly beaten on the day and saw them tie their lowest ever ranking as Scotland leapfrogged the Wallabies, who lost 1.65 rankings points in San Juan.

Despite their impressive win, Los Pumas remain in ninth place.

1 (1) Ireland 90.03

2 (2) France 89.41

All Blacks silence critics with 35-23 victory over Springboks

Captain Sam Cane and hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho also scored tries as the All Blacks silenced the 61,519 crowd to claim what will be viewed as a famous win having lost five of their previous six tests.

The Springboks were not as clinical as they had been in the 26-10 victory over the visitors the previous week as they scored tries through sublime centre Lukhanyo Am and winger Makazole Mapimpi, but faced opponents who were vastly improved.

Career defining test for All Blacks coach Ian Foster

Another loss would draw further ire from fans and New Zealand Rugby administrators and even a victory might not be enough to save his skin.

Adding to the drama, the test is at the Springboks' spiritual home of Ellis Park, where winning is considered one of the toughest challenges in world rugby.

All Blacks captain Sam Cane said they were "desperate to improve".

Ian Foster shrugs off the 'growing' pains to back his men

   Right.

The under-pressure All Blacks coach – noticeably on edge as he spoke about what might be his final team – has made just four changes to his starting XV and brought in a couple of new faces on his bench for the second of these back-to-back clashes against the world champions at their intimidating home citadel early Sunday (3.05am NZT).

Foster makes four changes in latest All Blacks team to face Boks

The 16-point margin made it New Zealand’s fifth-equal biggest loss in their 616-Test history and the under-fire head coach has reacted by shaking things up in the forwards and also making a switch at fly-half.

Props Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax, who were both replacements last weekend, have been promoted to start at the expense of the benched George Bower and the excluded Angus Ta’avao. With tighthead Ta’avao not making the 23, the bench cover will be supplied by the uncapped Fletcher Newell.