All Blacks

Lomu died suddenly this week, aged 40, after suffering for many years from a chronic and serious kidney disorder.

The All Black great is survived by his wife, Nadene, and their two young children.

The 34-year-old flanker played a world record 148 Tests, 131 of them wins, and led the All Blacks to two World Cup final victories, including last month's triumph against Australia.

McCaw is also a three-time winner of the World Player of the Year award.

The news, expected for some time, comes 24 hours after the death of iconic All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu.

Yesterday, students and staff at the school south of Auckland, were stunned by his sudden death.

One of his teachers, Richard Smythe, said Lomu at first showed no interest in rugby.

"He was always telling me he was going to run away from the school in the weekends and go and play league with his mates."

Smythe said the first time Lomu played rugby, there was "nothing".

As the Pacific Island government looks at how the nation will mark the rugby legend's passing, the governor of the Ha'apai island group said Lomu's family were now wearing ceremonial clothing as word spread of his death.

Former All Black midfielder Ryan Crotty also dotted down, while the Wallabies wing Joe Tomane bagged a brace in the one-sided victory over the English Premiership side.

Fiji's Nemani Nadolo, South Africa's Lood de Jager and Pat Lambie, and uncapped New Zealander Ardie Savea, who plays Super Rugby for the Hurricanes, were the other tryscorers in the ten-try romp.

The All Blacks went out of their way to include the injured Waisake Naholo in the squad for the tournament, leaving in-form utility Piutau on the sidelines.

Piutau told the Daily Mail that All Blacks coach Steve Hansen told him his move to Ireland was not the reason for his omission, but the former Blues back remains unconvinced.

"It's human to have those 'what ifs'," he said.

"I gave everything I could to be selected. I knew there was a possibility that moving could affect my chances.

Carter is currently travelling around New Zealand promoting the launch of his new book Dan Carter: My Story, before joining Paris-based side Racing Metro next week on a lucrative deal reportedly worth about $3 million a season.

McCaw, who turns 35 on 31 December, led the All Blacks to their third World Cup triumph two weeks ago when his side beat Australia 34-17 in the final at a packed Twickenham stadium in London.

The All Blacks were the first team to retain the trophy, after the openside flanker led the team to victory in 2011 while playing with a broken foot.

The All Blacks were given a hero's welcome in central Christchurch this afternoon, with more than 10,000 lining the streets and turning out to Hagley Park.

The team arrived back in New Zealand yesterday after beating Australia 34-17 in the World Cup final, with thousands.

Today's parade travelled through parts of the central city and into Hagley Park, where team members were officially welcomed by Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel.

Some very, very big names are playing their last games in All Black jerseys and they'll leave a a sizeable hole.

Here's a quick rundown of who's heading off and where they're going:

-Dan Carter (111 caps) is going to Racing 92, a Parisian club known for their outrageous wealth and commitment to aristocratic exclusivity.

-Ma'a Nonu (101 caps) is headed to Toulon, whose owner Mourad Boudjellal courted controversy by comparing some debatable refereeing decisions to being sodomised.