Live scoring All Blacks vs Wales

Don't forget that live scoring for the All Blacks vs Wales test match will be available here at http://www.nzallblacks.net

All Blacks team announced for Wales game

The All Blacks team has been announced to play Wales in Dunedin on Saturday.

The team is:

Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Benson Stanley, Joe Rokocoko, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Victor Vito, Anthony Boric, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks.

Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, Tony Woodcock, Sam Whitelock, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Richard Kahui.

More details at http://www.nzallblacks.net

All Blacks record stays intact

The All Blacks dominance over Ireland remains after a 66 points to 28 win in New Plymouth on Saturday. Yay!

Team announced for Ireland test match

The All Blacks team to face Ireland in New Plymouth has been named:

Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Benson Stanley, Joe Rokocoko, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Anthony Boric, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks.

Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, Neemia Tialata, Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Zac Guildford.

All Blacks arrive in New Plymouth

The All Blacks team to face the Irish arrived in New Plymouth on Sunday. All was going great until it was time to leave - they forgot Piri Weepu. He was left stranded at the airport! Luckily it was Mayor Pete to the rescue. And luckily he knew which hotel they were staying at - his!

Has New Zealand Rugby Lost It's Spark?

It seems, from watching the Super 14 games this year, that the New Zealand teams seem to have lost their edge and spark. Watching the Crusaders play the Bulls this morning, I found that the Crusaders made far too many mistakes and didn't have an answer to the Bulls, which for my money, have been the team to beat all season.

Are we lacking motivation, are the top players being paid too much (or too little), is there any incentive to strap on the boots apart from the money? Where is the pride and passion that we are used to seeing?

Have the top players played too many games for too many years?The NZRFU have decided in all their wisdom that there are too many tests and that after the Rugby World Cup, there will be fewer tests. Wow! After years and years of people saying that there are too many games, the NZRFU have finally come to realise this and are finally coming to the realisation that it's not all about the money, but the countries pride.

Let's hope that the lack of inspirational play from the New Zealand teams is just a lull before the storm at the Rugby World Cup. Here's hoping!

2010 All Blacks team

The 2010 All Blacks team will be announced on Sunday 30th of May. Stay tuned - all the selections will be posted right here when they become available.