Whitelock to lead NZ in Rugby Champs finale
Sam Whitelock will lead a heavily changed New Zealand side when the All Blacks host the Wallabies in a pivotal Rugby Championship clash at Eden Park on Saturday.
Sam Whitelock will lead a heavily changed New Zealand side when the All Blacks host the Wallabies in a pivotal Rugby Championship clash at Eden Park on Saturday.
All Blacks captain Sam Cane is questionable for the pivotal Rugby Championship clash against Australia on Saturday after being limited in training due to a head injury.
Still licking their wounds after a controversial loss to New Zealand, the Wallabies have been hit with a further blow as Darcy Swain has been cited for a dangerous clean-out.
Captain James Slipper has warned his Australia side that they face “a world of hurt” if they linger on defeat by South Africa and underestimate the stuttering All Blacks on Thursday.
The New Zealand U19 squad selected by head coach Mark Hammett has been unveiled to embark on a tour of South Africa later this month.
The All Blacks put 50 on Argentina in Hamilton on Saturday to get their Rugby Championship defence back on track.
World Rugby has published the ranking permutations for round four of the Rugby Championship, which could see the Springboks drop down if they suffer a heavy defeat.
New Zealand coach Ian Foster says that Argentina’s surge as an international rugby force is partly down to their players’ absence from the exhaustive demands of Super Rugby.
Beauden Barrett said on Tuesday that he is fit again after a neck injury and ready to help the All Blacks strike back against Argentina in Saturday’s second Test.
Argentina coach Michael Cheika on Thursday unveiled a strengthened backline, making three starting changes to his team to face New Zealand in their Rugby Championship Test in Christchurch on Saturday.