All Blacks loose forwards Kieran Read and Adam Thomson will be fit to play a part in the rugby World Cup squad despite their respective ankle and elbow injuries, says All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson.
A clash over sponsorship is standing in the way of All Black Sonny Bill Williams signing for another year, as his rugby bosses question the star's plans to endorse a Coca-Cola competitor.
Zac Guildford can often fly under the radar as a player and he was one of the surprise selections in today's 30-man All Black squad for the upcoming World Cup.
The All Black coaches have been joined by 10 players from the last flawed World Cup campaign for their chance at redemption.
Multi-tasking Piri Weepu has slipped into the pivotal halfback duties for the All Blacks' final test before the World Cup.
Hosea Gear and Liam Messam will be the highest-profile casualties when the All Blacks World Cup squad is named in Brisbane today.
Hosea Gear has hinted at pursuing a playing career overseas following his shock omission from the All Blacks world cup squad.
Telecom has pulled out of its "no sex over the rugby World Cup" campaign, saying it had misjudged public reaction.
The lofty All Blacks locking partnership of Ali Williams and Sam Whitelock has been reunited for a mega-duel against the Springboks senior lineout technicians, captain Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.
An under-strength New Zealand slipped to an 18-5 defeat at the hands of a resurgent South Africa in a Tri-Nations rugby match in Port Elizabeth today.
The Springboks' template has never been a mystery. Kick, chase, tackle has been their faithful rugby trinity and that formula brought them reward and the All Blacks an exasperating defeat.
The Wallabies cannot reclaim the Bledisloe Cup, though in one aspect of 2011 trans-Tasman rugby rivalry they reign supreme: the All Blacks' World Cup squad announcement tomorrow cannot hope to rival Australia's dramatic unveiling.
Coach Graham Henry has opted to rest a number of front-line players for the trip to South Africa for a Tri-Nations rugby match on August 20.
The All Blacks are shelving almost 500 test caps as they balance World Cup needs against their sole offshore challenge from the Springboks.
Strong defence and ruthlessness in taking their chances took the All Blacks to a convincing win over Australia in tonight's Tri-Nations test match at Eden Park.
Captain Richie McCaw and talisman Daniel Carter may bypass the All Blacks' next test to prepare for the final Tri-Nations international against the Wallabies in Brisbane.
One side will leave the World Cup final venue tonight with renewed confidence they can repeat in 79 days.
A sublime display from first five-eighth Daniel Carter helped New Zealand to a crush a weakened South Africa 40-7 in their Tri-nations rugby test in Wellington tonight.
All Black coach Graham Henry is expecting a completely different level of opponent when his side takes on the Wallabies in Auckland on Saturday.
Andrew Hore has signed for the Highlanders but winger Hosea Gear is only a 50-50 prospect of joining the franchise.
