Canterbury coach Rob Penney lets fly after his side's surprise ITM Cup defeat to Tasman in The Press.

" For the teams that make the final, the NPC is a 15-week competition.That demands a pretty robust campaign and I'd like to think we work our guys in a manner that allows them to be excited and refreshed by the end of each week.

"That's what was so disappointing about our performance against Tasman on Saturday. We had a really good, managed preparation but not only did the players let themselves down, first and foremost, but they let the wider group down too.

"That's the guys who couldn't play, the management and ultimately red-and-black country – the people that get in behind them and support them. That was a really un-Canterbury performance."

Chris Rattue has compiled a list of ways that New Zealand can win the Rugby World Cup in 2011 in The New Zealand Herald.

"The Tri-Nations trophy (does anyone actually know what this looks like?) is back in the cupboard, and all is well in Rugbyland.

"Next assignment. Eeeeek - the World Cup.Okay, so we're skipping a few things here, like another of those (yawn) magnificent trips to Europe, where the Scary Scots and Welsh Wizards lie in wait.

"Not that they need the help right now, but here are a few suggestions for the All Blacks to amp up the campaign to become world champs, and so put this nation out of a dreadful misery."

Peter Bills hails the All Blacks' gameplan as the deciding factor in their Tri-Nations triumph in The Irish Independent.

"So, did the All Blacks get out of jail in Johannesburg? Behind for 77 minutes of a compelling Test match and at times smashed back by the Springboks' immense physicality and terrific defence, were they lucky to turn the game on its head with two tries in the last three minutes?

"Not in my book. This match wasn't won in front of 94,000 delirious South African fans who thought they had the old Kiwi skewered and on the braai midway through the second half when the Boks led 22-14.

"It was won last year in the northern hemisphere and earlier this year when the Tri Nations began. As someone once said, you triumphed the moment you decided to become someone."

Chris Rattue hails the performance of New Zealand after they wrapped up the Tri-Nations title in Soweto, and he wasn't at all impressed with the Springboks, in The New Zealand Herald.

"Rugby has rarely been better to watch, if ever, and this re-built All Black team is already among the best ever.

"The All Blacks were magnificent, nullifying South Africa's famed home advantage and finishing them off with two late tries that should rank high in any memory that can cope with the cluttered modern day test schedule. As for the Springboks, they are in even bigger trouble than we thought.

"If that's the best the world champs can come up with in a home colosseum while celebrating John Smit's century of tests, then they are indeed one large tank skidding out of control down one very steep hill."

Are the All Blacks in a class of their own? © Getty Images

Marc Hinton hails the All Blacks' Tri-Nations victory and their emergence as one of the great sides on stuff.co.nz.

" Does it get any better? The Springbok sweep is completed, but more to the point the All Blacks have shown in Soweto overnight that they are on course to go down as one of the great sides of this generation.

"Their 29-22 victory over the Springboks achieved all sorts of landmarks - their 10th Tri-Nations title in 15 years, their 14th straight test victory in a run that shows no sign of abating and, importantly, their third win in as many outings against the Boks in 2010.

"The horrors of 2009 are now not only avenged, they're a distant memory. The Springboks have been swept, now just the Australians await. Surely the wobbling Wallabies are just another statistic waiting to be hoovered up by this hungry side of Graham Henry's."

Sean Fitzpatrick maintains that the All Blacks and Springboks need each other, despite the recent SANZAR wrangling, in The New Zealand Herald.

"My response to the Springboks pulling out of Sanzar is - don't do it. The All Blacks and the Springboks need each other, perhaps more than either would like to admit.

"In my view, it's still the best rivalry in world rugby. I have magical memories from my youth of sitting in front of the TV with my family in the dead of night, tingling with excitement at the prospect of watching the All Blacks take on the auld enemy.

"My heroes the All Blacks, playing South Africa on the TV in the wee small hours of the morning - pure rugby heaven for a young lad. Playing the Boks has always been the ultimate challenge for any All Black and that remains the case. Playing them in New Zealand is a tough proposition, but fronting up in South Africa is another level altogether."

The Springboks have had little to cheer about in 2010 © Getty Images

Gavin Rich ponders the step up in class shown by New Zealand's players this season, and the flat performances of their Springbok counterparts on Supersport.

"If anyone was trying to justify the all-pervading depression that fell on many South African rugby followers at the end of the away leg of the Tri-Nations, All Black coach Graham Henry summed up why they were feeling that when he arrived in the country at the weekend.

“It has been going well so far, because there was a feeling in New Zealand after the Super 14 final that we would not be able to match the Springboks,” said Henry.

"Yes, and that was only two and a half months ago. Henry's words are a reminder that the South African expectations were not based on false hope and were completely justified. This was not a year when the Springboks should have been so emphatically outplayed away from home."

Chris Rattue can't tear his eyes away from the 'Sonny Bill Show' as the former Toulon centre gears up for his Canterbury bow in The New Zealand Herald.

"The Sonny Bill Williams show should kick off in earnest this week and this unique rugby extravaganza continues to gather pace.

"Canterbury play Tasman in Nelson on Saturday afternoon - the early bets will be on Williams making an appearance in the second half. Williams got the royal treatment from the Sky commentators on Friday night, even though he didn't actually appear for Canterbury against North Harbour because of a "tight hamstring".

"Unavailable yes, but certainly not forgotten. Not since "Bring Back Buck" entered the language has an absent friend been so present. Williams won frequent mentions in association with the blockbusting Canterbury centre Robbie Fruean who was actually playing, and playing rather well."

Richard Loe believes that a few All Black barbs have found their mark in recent weeks as they prepare for a Soweto showdown with the Springboks in The Herald on Sunday.

"The All Blacks have been clever in their build-up to next weekend's test match against the Boks in Soweto - and they need to be.

"The Boks will come at them very hard in front of 90,000 fans.The All Blacks in the two tests in New Zealand didn't just surprise the Springboks, they shattered the image of them being the best team in the world, put a question mark next to the future of many players and will have made them question their whole approach to the game, only a year or so out from the World Cup.

"Their response will be physical, committed and almost desperate. But will it be enough? After the first test in New Zealand, most of us thought (I certainly did) the Boks would come back hard in the second test."

Has Israel Dagg's Crusaders move made New Zealand rugby lopsided? © Getty Images

Tony Smith believes that the Crusaders' selection pull, in the wake of Israel Dagg's defection, could spell problems for New Zealand rugby in The Press.

"Has the New Zealand Rugby Union opened a can of worms with its Super 15 selection policy, and are the Crusaders getting greedy?

"Most franchises would count themselves lucky to have Sonny Bill Williams' signature. But now the Crusaders have poached exciting young All Blacks back Israel Dagg and are also flirting with the Highlanders' All Black backrower Adam Thomson.

"A Super rugby player has effectively become a stateless person. Dagg hails from Hawke's Bay and continues to play national provincial championship rugby for the Magpies. Yet he got his Super rugby break with the Highlanders and is now headed to the Crusaders to join Magpies mate Zac Guildford, last year's capture from Hurricanes country."

Wynne Gray predicts a potent atmosphere as the All Blacks take on the Springboks in Soweto next weekend in The New Zealand Herald.

"The Springboks against the All Blacks in Soweto. The nerves churn and the blood rises just imagining the atmosphere next Sunday if more than 94,000 cram into the National Stadium to watch the old rivals.

"One of our satellite sports is baiting South Africans, but one thing we should never do is chip them about the way they support their national teams. They do atmosphere as well as any rugby nation round the globe.

"Next week that may rise to a new level as the Springboks arrive for the first of their three Tri-Nations tests at home with revered captain John Smit set for his 100th Springbok cap."

Dylan Cleaver takes a look at the recent upturn in fortunes for Counties Manukau in The New Zealand Herald.

"It says much about Counties Manukau's commitment to promoting young talent in the region that two of their most impressive players have a combined age that barely exceeds their most celebrated player's.

"Halfback August Pulu, 20, and fullback Tim Nanai-Williams, 21, have provided the impetus that has propelled Counties to the top of the ITM Cup table and gives them real hope of an upset in tomorrow's Ranfurly Shield challenge against Southland.

"Granted, it is early days and there is every chance they could come unstuck by season's end, but at the moment it is good times in the Franklin district."

Wynne Gray calls for Peter De Villiers, and his now famous outbursts, to remain in place throught to the 2011 Rugby World Cup in The New Zealand Herald.

"The squeaky helium tones of Peter de Villiers will not be back in town until next year, as long as he makes the World Cup cut. In the meantime, though, his vocal gems are sure to bounce around the globe as other nations marvel at some of his sayings and wonder about his coaching connection to the Springboks.

"Let's hope he stays in charge to the end of next year because without him, the Boks would be a much more dangerous beast.

"This week, old P Divvy escaped the wrath of Sanzar when he was cleared of misconduct for comments implying some sort of conspiracy between referees to bolster interest in the 2011 World Cup. A South African judicial official ruled that he had not breached the code of conduct."

Marc Hinton takes a look at the latest in a growing line of refereeing errors as Tony Woodcock is let off the hook in stuff.co.nz.

"Hell, even I'm embarrassed now by the dream ride being afforded the All Blacks. Maybe the wildly eccentric Peter de Villiers actually has a point.

"Call off the judicial Rottweilers! Goodness knows Graham Henry's men don't need any help beating their rivals, the form they're in this year, and the confidence and efficiency they're playing with.

"But they certainly got some on Saturday night from otherwise exemplary South African referee Jonathan Kaplan in Bledisloe II in Christchurch."

Greg Growden of Rugby Heaven looks forward to next year's World Cup in New Zealand.

"Remember the classic ship scene from the Marx Brothers' A Night at the Opera when everyone pours into Otis B Driftwood's stateroom?

As the three Marx Brothers are surrounded by manicurists, ship engineers and finally waiters carrying plates of food, Groucho exclaims: ''Is it my imagination, or is it getting crowded in here?''

"That moment was re-enacted on Saturday night in Christchurch. But this time it wasn't funny. All week we'd been hearing about how the Christchurch Test was being used as a guinea pig for next year's World Cup tournament to see whether the local facilities could cope with a major international event. The Wallabies travelled via Auckland to check if the Customs facilities would be efficient enough for the visiting teams.

"Good to hear, as the Auckland arrivals area can be a debacle. Sure, New Zealanders are proud they are a wool nation, but it doesn't mean tourists have to be herded into a sheep pen. If you can get through the baggage area in less than half an hour, think yourself lucky. And then you have to confront the nightmare of travelling into Auckland where a highway suddenly dissolves into a one-lane suburban street, prompting delays and further frustration.

"Can't wait for World Cup finals time in Auckland, especially as the locals are already whingeing that getting to and from Eden Park is as easy as escaping Alcatraz."

Sonny Bill Williams in action for Belfast in Christchurch © Getty Images

Writing in the Sunday Herald, Richard Loe reports on Sonny Bill Williams' comeptitive debut in New Zealand.

"They were hanging out of the trees, you couldn't find a parking spot at Sheldon Park and they were lined up seven or eight deep on the sidelines - but, in the end, all you could really say about Sonny Bill Williams' rugby debut in New Zealand was that he's finally had a game.

"The Belfast and Lincoln University club sides seemed a bit overawed by the attention. They'd normally get 100-200 people on a good day. There were thousands yesterday.

"While the standard of rugby wasn't up to much, Sonny Bill scored a solo try from second five-eighth and you can see why the All Black selectors are interested in him.

"He looked the part in Belfast colours - green and gold, right down to the gold boots - and on the evidence of what little ball he got, he looked the part in a rugby sense too."

The All Blacks shed their cloak of invincibility last night yet continued on their winning way, the Sunday Herald's Gregor Paul reports on New Zealand's latest victory over Australia.

"They had to work for it. They had to sweat, remind the nation that appearances have been deceptive this season - test rugby is a tough business.

"The high-octane rugby was still on view, the desire to run and cut loose always evident, but some of the grunt, some of the smash work wasn't.

"Also on view was genuine Wallaby resistance. They had most of the ball. They had plenty of territory and they had plenty of passion.

"They just couldn't find the right holes to run through. Their ball retention was excellent - their direction not so. No one can expect to beat the All Blacks with such lateral work."

Writing on Rugby Heaven, Marc Hinton details Sonny Bill Williams' first outing for New Zealand club side Belfast.

"They showed him the love, and Sonny Bill Williams lapped it up as he made his long-awaited debut on the rugby fields of New Zealand this afternoon.

"Close to 4000 people packed leafy Sheldon Park in suburban Christchurch to watch New Zealand rugby's big-name signing make his first appearance on the New Zealand scene.

"And they were not disappointed as the one-time star of the NRL put in a classy sort of 49 minutes, capped by a go-ahead second-half try, and helped inspire his Belfast club to a 22-7 victory over Lincoln University in the Christchurch club competition."

Frowns all around: Are the Aussies heading for a crisis? © Getty Images

Peter Bills airs his concerns for Australian rugby, not only on the pitch but off it, in The Irish Independent.

"Without wishing to put too fine a point on it – something the Aussies never like doing – a brutal fact has to be recorded: Australian rugby is in the soup.

"It has nothing to do with last weekend’s defeat for the Wallabies at the hands of the all-conquering All Blacks. Fact is, they are likely to get another belting when they meet again in the Tri Nations/Bledisloe Cup match in Christchurch on Saturday.

"If the Wallabies lose this weekend, it will be a ninth successive loss to the All Blacks, their fiercest rivals. Yet not even that stark, sorry statistic represents the depth of Australian rugby’s travails.

"A marketing survey recently released in Sydney revealed that Australian Rugby Union’s (ARU) share of the sporting market has nearly halved in six years despite spending an alarming AUS$23m on the game. It has slipped to a perilous 13.7pc of the sporting interest market and is only the fourth most watched sport in the country."

Wallabies legend Mark Ella believes that Robbie Deans must develop combinations in his backline if he is to counter the All Blacks in The New Zealand Herald.

"So far in this season's Tri-Nations matches it has been noticeable that the senior players within the All Blacks group have been in outstanding form and the likes of McCaw, Kieran Read, Keven Mealamu, Brad Thorn, Tony Woodcock and Mils Muliaina are getting better with age.

"The one aspect of the game that is worrying from an Australian perspective is the lack of combination within the Wallabies backline.

"The Wallabies have a team of utility players who, apart from halfback Will Genia, are too accustomed at playing in different positions week in week out."

New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Justin Vaughan shows his disgust at the conduct of All Blacks fans at last weekend's Bledisloe Cup Test in The New Zealand Herald.

"I was lucky enough to be in Melbourne last week.I have spent quite a lot of time there in the past and it is a city I really like, in part because of its great sporting culture.

"My recent trip was to meet with Cricket Australia, with our discussions centred on resolving the ICC vice-president nomination as well as preliminary planning for our co-hosting of the Cricket World Cup in 2015.

"I was very fortunate to be invited to attend both the All Black test match against the Wallabies at Etihad Stadium and an AFL game at the MCG (between Collingwood and Carlton) while I was there."

Can Soccer City inspire the Springboks? © Getty Images

Brenden Nel calls for the Springboks to build some momentum and restore some pride between now and the end of the season on Supersport.

" Now that the Springboks can do absolutely nothing to stop the All Blacks from winning back the Tri-Nations title, it is time rather to turn our attentions to restoring pride in the national jersey and creating some momentum ahead of next year’s World Cup.

"The next three home Tri-Nations games will be crucial for the Springboks, not only because they are on home soil, but because it will test the reaction of a management team currently under pressure to come up with a counter to not only the All Black supremacy, but their own playing woes on the field.

"You don’t have to be an expert to expect the Boks to do well in these three test matches. They are, by far, a different animal at home, and all three tests are at altitude, with the Wallabies having a very poor record, having not won at altitude since 1992."

Chris Rattue joins the chorus of dissenting voices following Drew Mitchell's sending off against the All Blacks in The New Zealand Herald.

"Thank you, YouTube. Finally, we get to see what Wallaby winger Drew Mitchell was yellow-carded for in the Melbourne test. It turns out to be the phantom tackle.

"The initial Fox Sports-provided pictures broadcast by Sky in New Zealand didn't show the incident but a clip on the internet answers the riddle. The verdict: rugby is stark raving bonkers to send blokes off in test matches for such innocuous incidents.

"The Wallaby pack may be soft, but the game is getting even softer. Mitchell perhaps got what he deserved - under the dubious current rules - when he prevented Conrad Smith from taking a quick lineout throw later on and was red-carded for a second yellow card offence."

Toby Robson takes a look at the contrasting body language shown by the All Blacks and Wallabies in training on Tuesday in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Body language experts weren't needed in Christchurch yesterday.

"Five days before kick-off, two contrasting practice runs unfolded as the All Blacks and the Wallabies began preparations in earnest for their Bledisloe Cup rematch.

"At AMI Stadium the mood was light. Even the most carefree passes stuck as the All Blacks backs went through their counter-attack drills at the match venue. Players and coaches wore the relaxed, self-assured smiles of a team on a 12-Test winning streak and with fresh memories of a 49-28 drubbing of their trans-Tasman neighbours."

Tana Umaga takes on the Otago defence © Getty Images

Dylan Cleaver is happy to eat humble pie following Tana Umaga's successful return to New Zealand rugby with Countie Manukau in The New Zealand Herald.

"Tipping results in a public forum is a bit like a pub quiz. You give it the fist pump when you get one right, but mutter an exasperated, "Of course, if I'd thought about it a bit longer," when you've wrongly nominated the Matterhorn as the tallest mountain in the Alps.

"So let it be known that in last week's Super Sport, Southland, Wellington and Auckland all got the fist-pump treatment. A few didn't, most glaringly Counties Manukau versus Otago.

"Unless Counties can get their hands on the ball they will lose heavily ... Otago by 8," was the gist of it. Actual result, Counties 29, Otago 13."

Spiro Zavos ponders Robbie Deans' legacy in New Zealand rugby as he looks to plot their downfall as coach of Australia in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Hoist by his own petard. Wallabies coach Robbie Deans endured the acute pain on Saturday night during the Bledisloe Cup Test at Melbourne of seeing several players he developed into stars when he coached the Crusaders destroy his team. But would the Franks brothers, Brad Thorn, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read or Daniel Carter have been the great players they have become if they had been developed by Australian Super rugby coaches? They might not have.

"Deans cleverly played Thorn as a second-rower, rather than as a loose forward. And in doing so he maintained the Crusaders' tactic (now standard practice around the world, except in some Australian sides) of having a scrummaging, hard-yards second-rower (Todd Blackadder before Thorn) to complement a taller, jumping partner. Deans, though, spent hours getting Thorn's jumping right by practising with him, having Thorn catch an old boot. On Saturday night Thorn won his one lineout throw and made important passes in both of Cory Jane's tries.

"When Carter first came into the Crusaders squad, Deans asked him what his goals were for the season. "To take Mehrts' [Andrew Mehrtens's] place," he replied. "Good answer," Deans told him. A common sight at the end of the Crusaders' practices was Deans teaching Carter all the tricks of how to kick a rugby ball."

Are the All Blacks peaking too early again? © Getty Images

Peter Bills revisits an age-old question in The Irish Independent; are the All Blacks peaking too early?

"This was not the perfect All Blacks performance and, besides, we won't know its true value until the World Cup next year. After all, Vincent van Gogh only sold one painting in his entire lifetime.

"But as an indicator of what is possible if your philosophy focuses on attack over defence, if your mindset is to free the ball and run it as often as possible and you have the skill set to complete that task, this latest demonstration of what the game is capable of now that the law interpretations have been tweaked, was more than adequate.

"A harvest of seven tries at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium on Saturday means that the All Blacks have now scored 15 tries in three Tri-Nations matches this season and conceded just five."

Chris Rattue rubbishes the efforts of Robbie Deans' Wallabies and bigs up the achievements of the All Blacks in The New Zealand Herald.

"The All Blacks will be the best side by streets at the World Cup next year. It won't even be close.

"Whether they win the trophy or not is another matter. If the World Cup was a championship, no team would touch them. As the Webb Ellis Cup is decided by sudden-death games, anything is possible, as everybody knows.

"Graham Henry's new-look side is so far ahead of the pack that the Bledisloe Cup game in Christchurch this week is in danger of turning into a massacre, with the Awful Aussies ripe for a hiding. The problem for Australia isn't skill. The problem is a lack of muscle power and heart."

Keven Mealamu has been in fine form for the All Blacks © Getty Images

Duncan Johnstone salutes Keven Mealamu after another stand-out performance from the All Blacks hooker on stuff.co.nz.

"Keven Mealamu is demanding the All Blacks keep their feet on the ground and with his nuggety frame that shouldn't be too difficult for the in-form hooker.

"Mealamu was one of the stars of New Zealand's 49-28 thrashing of the Wallabies in Melbourne last night.He made some big yards up the middle of the paddock with his low-trajectory running game and put in some big hits with another busy effort on defence.

"The All Blacks know they are just a win away from retaining the Bledisloe Cup when they meet Australia in Christchurch next Saturday and judging by Mealamu's attitude they are determined to get the business done - with a dash of style that has characterised their impressive season."

Greg Growden calls for the All Blacks to be handed the Tri-Nations trophy after another dominant display against the Wallabies in Melbourne in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Give the All Blacks the Tri Nations trophy, right now. It is all over. The next month or so is just sheer theatrics. And while we're at it, why not call off the Christchurch and Sydney Bledisloe Cup Test matches!

"It's high time the Australian Rugby Union did long-suffering Wallabies fans a favour, because they have been subjected too long to unnecessary agony, dejection and disbelief as one Australian line-up after another has been put through the sausage machine, and turned into little boys by the All Black master butchers.

"It's eight Tri Nations defeats in a row - and drawing close to the worst sequence ever when Australia lost nine in a row to New Zealand between 1936-47. This is a debacle, even prompting All Blacks coach Graham Henry to say if he was in a situation of eight straight losses he would feel ''sad''."

All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick was impressed by Graham Henry's men once again as they routed the Wallabies, and doesn't buy in to their 'chokers' tag, in The New Zealand Herald.

"This was another very good All Blacks performance. What was especially pleasing was that it was a continuation of what they did in the first two tests against the Springboks.

"The Wallabies posed different problems to South Africa and that was illustrated in the first two minutes when Matt Giteau picked out a mis-match in the All Blacks defence and set James O'Connor up for a great early opportunity.

"But the All Blacks withstood the pressure throughout and maintained their accuracy and intensity. They played smart rugby. People have been saying New Zealand are peaking too early again and we are going down the same road we do every time before a World Cup. But I don't buy into that at all. At the moment they are playing smarter, better rugby than anyone else."

Writing in The New Zealand Herald, Wynne Gray wonders if there is a place for Sonny Bill Williams in the All Blacks squad.

"I'm with Khoder Nasser all the way. Couldn't quibble with the bloke - even if some of his methods, from a distance, seem a bit agricultural.

"Nasser is the bloke who manages boxer Anthony Mundine and Sonny Bill Williams, the yet to get started Cantab in the ITM Cup.

"There was his manager, talking recently through a range of his topics associated with his two main clients and predicting impending All Black status for SBW.

"No worries, said Nasser, SBW would be picked for the All Blacks and would be a star.

"I half agree at least. Star? Dunno, but it will be 29 blokes plus SBW for the end-of-year tour with the All Blacks.

"Nothing will surprise unless the bloke is damaged.

"Why else would the NZRU and All Black selectors go through all their ingratiation unless they thought SBW was of international calibre? That done, the investment will have to be used on the end-of-year tour."

In a stinging editorial, The New Zealand Herald vents it fury at Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully over his use of taxpayer's money to wine and dine IRB officials.

"The scenario is not hard to imagine. Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully is hosting the International Rugby Board at one of the Viaduct Harbour's most upmarket restaurants to celebrate the official launch of World Cup ticket sales.

"These grandees are accustomed to the very best. Not for no reason were their meetings held in London's exclusive East India Club for many years. Why, in the words of a spokesman for Mr McCully, would you not use this occasion to showcase the "best" New Zealand has to offer?

"The cost to the taxpayer might be one reason. The latest release of ministerial credit-card spending records shows Mr McCully spent $2855 wining and dining his 14 IRB guests.

"Included in the bill were four bottles of Ata Rangi pinot noir '06 for an eye-popping $740, or $185 each. Judith Tizard, the former Consumer Affairs Minister, must be mortified."

The race to finish in the top seven of the ITM Cup has seen some unions aggressively recruit players - but it's not without risk according to the New Zealand Herald's Michael Brown.

"The finishing order of the 14 teams in the competition will determine which seven teams qualify for the Premiership and which seven teams will play in the Championship in 2011. This battle for a top-seven place is what some have described as the "competition within the competition" and it has shaped many unions' recruitment.

"Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Southland and Hawke's Bay have been four of the most active provinces in the off-season.

"Each province must fit under the new salary cap regulations, set at $1.35 million or 36 per cent of a union's commercial revenue based on audited accounts from the previous two years - whichever is the least.

"Bay of Plenty, who finished seventh last year, have recruited a number of newcomers including All Black wing Lelia Masaga, former Hurricanes lock Luke Andrews, Highlanders centre Brett Mather and former Auckland halfback Taniela Moa, who was a late signing after Junior Poluleuligaga was lured back overseas. It means the Steamers could field an entire starting line-up of players with Super rugby experience."

The bitterness the rest of the world feels towards Richie McCaw is increasingly hard to contain according to the New Zealand Herald's Gregor Paul.

"There's barely disguised contempt for the All Black captain these days, as if his brilliance is neither real nor sustainable but for his unparalleled capacity to cheat.

"McCaw the cheat is the subject of choice in any test build-up; invariably the theme that dominates the post-match analysis.

"The skipper was ludicrously good in Wellington - something the South Africans were keen to dismiss as they questioned the legality of his work and the leniency of the referee.

"Springbok captain John Smit at least gave the impression he harboured a begrudging professional respect for McCaw; that the South African hooker would love to have the same favoured status among the world's leading referees.

"From Smit's perspective, the frustration is not that McCaw bends and occasionally breaks the rules, operating in the decidedly grey areas all quality opensides consider home. It's the fact he seems so regularly to win the benefit of the doubt; that referees are almost in awe of his reputation and powerless in his presence."

Mils Muliaina - front and centre in the war against loose kicks © Getty Images

Peter Bills believes that the All Blacks could soon inspire a revolution in rugby, one where old-school counter attacking is the order of the day, in The Independent.

"A strange, alien sighting was glimpsed in the skies above Wellington's Westpac stadium last Saturday night. Or rather, it was something that wasn't there that was so bewildering, so baffling.

"A rugby Test match was played without any aerial ping-pong, the great kicking plague of the modern game. Well, that isn't strictly true. One side did still try it. But they lost by 31 points to 17, four tries to two. So they don't matter, do they?

"Well, let's hope not. It might be stretching credulity to suggest that the rugby played by New Zealand these past two weekends in the Tri-Nations, at Auckland and Wellington, has been of a revolutionary nature."

Peter Grant salutes the transformation of Auckland's Eden Park into a top-notch stadium in The New Zealand Herald.

"Sounds like a TV period costume drama; maybe it was. My wife and I had been shouted a trip to Auckland for the night with tickets to the All Blacks v South Africa test match.

"We stayed at Newmarket so that we could wander down the road to catch the train to Eden Park.
First mistake, as the trains were not running from Newmarket, but had been replaced with a free bus service departing from Remuera Rd off Broadway.

"My wife was adamant that we catch the free bus instead of walking to Grafton station to catch the train, as the bus was closer."

Spiro Zavos has no time for the complaints of the Springboks in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Saloons in the Wild West often carried a notice: "Do not shoot the pianist, he is doing his best." This instruction came to mind when the madcap coach of the Springboks, Peter de Villiers, tried to explain his team's two comprehensive losses to the All Blacks.

"De Villiers suggested the Springboks had been persecuted by the referees. He threatened to "prepare guys to cheat" to turn this around. For the record, the penalty/free kick count at Wellington under the Irishman Alain Rolland was 10-9 in favour of New Zealand. One penalty to South Africa was turned around after Danie Rossouw was given a yellow card for flicking Richie McCaw in the eyes and then kneeing him.

"This hardly seems like the persecution of a team that was outplayed. And at Auckland in the first Tri Nations Test, the Springboks were awarded seven consecutive penalties in the middle part of the match, and were well ahead in the penalty count despite being thrashed on the scoreboard."

Handbags: Danie Rossouw and Richie McCaw get to grips with each other © Getty Images

Chris Rattue laments the performance of Alain Rolland in Saturday's Tri-Nations showdown between the All Blacks and Springboks in The New Zealand Herald.

"Sky started coverage of the clash between the All Blacks and Springboks by getting referee Alain Rolland's nationality wrong - putting the French colours alongside the Irishman's name.

"Sounds French so must be French - a mistake a few of us have been close to making with Rolland over the years. Rolland was French by suspicion, which is the sort of justice he meted out to Danie Rossouw, the Springbok lock, a few minutes later.

"The sinbinning of Rossouw was diabolical, the distorting of a major international sporting contest on scant evidence."

Peter Bills salutes another scintillating All Blacks performance, and sounds a note of warning prior to the World Cup, in The Irish Independent.

"So now we know it wasn't a fluke. And the challenge New Zealand's attacking game plan will present to every team in next year's World Cup has been spelled out in clear, exciting terms.

"Two defeats of world champions South Africa, a points tally of 63-29 and a try count of 8-2 in their favour speaks volumes for the All Blacks' attacking prowess and their determination to play a fast, penetrative game with ball-handling, and not kicking, at its core.

"They have thrown down a challenge to world rugby. To play such a compelling a style of rugby in perfect conditions at Auckland nine days ago was one thing. The Springboks were surprised, shocked by it. But to repeat the feat in wet, windy conditions at Wellington on Saturday night was something else altogether."

The All Blacks delight in Israel Dagg's try against the Springboks in Wellington © Getty Images

Writing in the Sunday Herald, Gregor Paul analyses what the All Blacks learnt from a difficult 2009.

"As hard as it was to stomach back then, the 3-0 blitzing by the Boks last year was the making of this All Black side. In their darkest hour, they were forced down a different path and the All Blacks of 2010 would not be the side they are now had it not been for the pain of 2009.

"The glaring deficiencies in their game had to be addressed. No one was immune - not even Richie McCaw, nor Dan Carter, nor the coaches.

"As much as he hated it, McCaw had to learn how to attack the ball in the air. He hated it because most of the 80 minutes could be spent virtually standing still, watching the aerial ping-pong play out. To get involved, he had to be able to time his run, get off the ground and challenge for the ball.

"Carter had to work on his kicking repertoire. He had the length and range; he needed to improve his tactical implementation. He had to better judge when to bang the ball long and when to stick it high and give his players the chance to retrieve.

"The coaching panel had to re-evaluate their selection templates and the emphasis they placed on basic skills."

Can John Smit inspire the Springboks? © Getty Images

Gavin Rich expects Springbok skipper John Smit to shoulder plenty of responsibility against New Zealand this weekend on Supersport.

" His ability to dig his team out of a crisis meant that at the Wanderers there used to be a saying that “cometh the hour, cometh Clive Rice”. In the Springbok rugby context, it could be adapted to John Smit, as it is the captain’s ability to take the world on his shoulders and stand up and be counted that holds the key to South Africa’s chances of redemption in Wellington on Saturday.

"The Boks take on the All Blacks in the second Vodacom Tri-Nations test under the sort of pressure they haven’t faced since the first match of last year’s British and Irish Lions series. Since then the winning momentum has tended to be with them, they have been on a roll, and the step back that appeared to be taken on the last end-of-year tour was hidden behind the excuse of fatigue.

"But as Jean de Villiers said during the week, the big defeat in Auckland seven days ago, where the Boks not only lost by 20 points but also conceded four tries to nil, had the effect of taking the Boks 10 steps backwards."

Wynne Gray is expecting renewed fire from the Springboks when they take on New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday in The New Zealand Herald.

"In the cyclops world in which some New Zealand rugby followers dwell, the All Blacks will repeat their vast Eden Park-winning margin tomorrow.

"For those with greater peripheral vision, this looms as a much tougher contest than a week ago. Why? There are a multitude of reasons. Last Saturday was a hell of a beating - a 20-point thumping, though it was well short of the record 52-16 walloping they delivered in Pretoria in 2003.

"The All Blacks will do well to play or be allowed to play to the standards they showed in this start to the Tri-Nations. The Tri-Nations champions, who include the core of the Bulls side which won the Super 14 crown this season and others who annexed the last World Cup, are not a dud team."

Bakkies Botha's nine-week ban could be the turning point in his career according to those who know the Springbok and Vata Ngobeni in The Star.

"On Thursday, Botha met with Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, with an affirmation by the Bulls to support their beleaguered lock.

"Botha, 30, has one more year to run on his Bulls contract and speculation is rife that he could leave for big money overseas after next year's World Cup.Meanwhile, there has been some closure following the head-butting incident.

"Bakkies did go on TV on Monday night and apologised to the nation and we back him 100 percent in this," said Ludeke. "He put his hand up, accepted responsibility for his actions and said his actions weren't good enough."

Rene Ranger makes his first start for the All Blacks in Wellington © Getty Images

Marc Hinton believes that the real test of the All Blacks' credentials will come this weekend in Wellington, when the odds are not so heavily stacked in their favour, on stuff.co.nz.

"This week is the real indicator for the All Blacks. This week we get a genuine sneak peek at whether Graham Henry's men have reclaimed their place at the top of world rugby's pecking order.

"I believe it's only after Saturday night's Blacks-Boks II at the capital's Cake Tin that we'll really be able to pass judgment on Richie McCaw and co, and just how well they're travelling a year or so out from the big party at their house.

"Sure enough last week at Eden Park was pretty damn impressive, 32-12, four tries to nil, and the Boks outplayed in pretty much every facet of the game as the Tri-Nations was opened in style."

Peter Bills believes that South Africa are getting their just desserts after failing to curb bakkies Botha's indiscipline in The New Zealand Herald.

"Bakkies Botha caught an aeroplane out of New Zealand late Sunday night, the start of a long flight home to South Africa in which shame and humiliation would have been his only companions.

"Botha's 2010 Tri-Nations tournament ended after 51 minutes, the time it took his coach to substitute him during last Saturday night's test match against the All Blacks at Eden Park, Auckland.

"In truth, it should have ended with a red card after 29 seconds, the time it took for the giant Springbok lock to head-butt from behind New Zealand halfback Jimmy Cowan."

Jacques van der Westhuyzen was left "angry and embarrassed" by the actions of Bakkies Botha in South Africa's loss to New Zealand, in The Star.

"There's a fine line in rugby between being an aggressive player and being a thug. On Saturday in Auckland, Bakkies Botha overstepped the line. And if he is branded a thug for the rest of his career, it'll be no surprise.

"His headbutt on Jimmy Cowan was inexcusable and he's rightly been punished. His absence in the Bok team will, fortunately, not be felt because there are more than enough quality locks to take over the No4 jersey. In fact, Danie Rossouw and Andries Bekker have played better rugby than Botha in the last 12 months and while they may not have the "presence" of him on the field, they're just as aggressive, robust and are, in fact, far cleaner players."

Spiro Zavos believes that the Springboks were over-confident and under-prepared for their opening Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Peter de Villiers, the zany Springboks coach, dismissed talk of South Africa not winning at Eden Park since 1937 with this comment to journalists: ''If you play the field as well as the opposition, you'll lose.'' I took that remark to mean that the Springboks didn't think they had to do anything extra or different to break their Eden Park hoodoo. This was a big mistake.

"They could have arrived in New Zealand earlier than six days before the Test. They were overconfident. A spy claims that on Friday night he spotted Ricky Januarie tucking into a McDonald's hamburger. Sean Fitzpatrick said the senior players looked tired not long into the match.

"The game plan of the Springboks did not involve much high-octane play. They played their usual kicking game as if they only had to turn up to win. There was thuggishness from Bakkies Botha, but no energy or thoughtfulness in their play."

Kieran Read celebrates after scoring the All Blacks' third © Getty Images

Peter Bills reserves plenty of praise for the All Blacks after a stunning start to their Tri-Nations in The Irish Independent.

"In the land where they filmed 'The Lord of the Rings', the world champions certainly had rings run around them. South Africa's beating, by four tries to nil, was a shuddering wake-up call.Their belief, arrogance personified, that they could just rock up a few days before this first Tri Nations Test of 2010 and ignore the ruinously wasting influences of jet lag, that no matter who the opposition, they could just turn up and it would be business as usual, suffered an almighty demolition job.

"They were off the pace, surprised and stung by the snap, crackle and pop of the All Blacks' game. Bakkies Botha's early yellow-carding, not to mention his wild headbutt upon Jimmy Cowan for which he was suspended for nine weeks yesterday at a disciplinary hearing, made the South Africans' lives so much more difficult. His early absence handed an initiative to New Zealand that the Boks were never able to wrest back."

Greg Growden rolls out a few World Cup jokes after the All Blacks' brilliant dismantling of South Africa in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Despite all the euphoria surrounding the All Blacks' swashbuckling win over the Springboks, the usual jokes about the Kiwis' inability to win a certain big trophy are getting another airing. Even if some of the gagsters have blatantly plagiarised lines directed at England and the football World Cup, they are worth retelling.

"The one going around yesterday involves a genie, who has granted the person who released him from the bottle one wish. ''I want to live forever,'' the person says. The genie slowly shakes his head, saying he cannot grant such a wish. ''Fine, instead I want to die when New Zealand win the World Cup.''

Chris Rattue, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that the nine-week ban handed to Bakkies Botha for a headbutt is insufficient.

"Nine weeks sounds like a long rugby ban. In the case of Bakkies Botha it isn't long enough. Botha should have got a year for what he did to Jimmy Cowan at Eden Park, also taking into account his history of thuggery.

"Why a year? Well, I've plucked that figure out of the air, but it sounds about right, and much more right than nine weeks.

"The best that could be said of Botha is that he admitted to head butting Cowan from behind, on the ground, and apologised. Given the outstanding video evidence against him, there wasn't much else Botha could do but nod, politely this time, in agreement."

With his Kiwi rugby debut in sight, Sonny Bill Williams admits it is the biggest gamble of his life - the Sydney Morning Herald's Steve Kilgallon reports.

"Sonny Bill Williams has grown up. The 18-month contract he signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union carries plenty of risk, little security, and he admits, is a huge gamble. It's precisely what he wanted. Never again will he sign a long-term contract.

''There's one line that has really stuck with me for a while now: you're only useful as long as you are necessary,'' says Williams, who still bitterly regrets the five-year contract he signed, and eventually walked away from, with the NRL's Bulldogs.

"In an extensive interview with Fairfax New Zealand he says: ''I wouldn't say I am a businessman. I would say I have become a lot smarter in the way I understand things. That line says it all. I guess sometimes it doesn't work both ways. I guess you could say I have grown up, matured. I have seen a lot and I guess that probably sums it up.''

Sonny Bill Williams faces the media © Getty Images

Canterbury recruit Sonny Bill Williams is happy to take the New Zealand media circus in his stride according to Jarrod Booker in The New Zealand Herald.

"Besieged by journalists, Sonny Bill Williams is asked if he thinks he will find any peace in his new hometown.

"I dunno ... if you guys give me some peace," he says with a broad smile. "Nah, it's all good, bro. It just comes with the territory of being back in this part of the world, I guess."

"The media onslaught yesterday after his arrival in Christchurch is nothing new to this colourful rugby league star turned Canterbury rugby union player and All Black hopeful. Throughout the world he is hot property to journalists and the sporting public."

Can South Africa win at Eden Park? © Getty Images

Tony Johnson ponders the Springboks' record at Eden Park, before going for a narrow All Black win, on Supersport.

"Eden Park has been kind to the All Blacks over the years. They have not lost a test match there since 1994, when the French scored arguably the greatest team try ever seen on that famous ground to snatch a win. They have not lost to the Springboks there since 1937.

"But right now, with the reconstruction project in full swing, it is half of a fortress, and the Springboks are sniffing a chance to break another hoodoo. Gradually this Springbok team is eating up a lot of old records. Two years ago they ended a run of defeats at Carisbrook that stretched back to the very beginning of great rivalry...their first victory in 8 tests there.

"A win at Eden Park must be a burning ambition, and if they can do it this year they’ll be very confident of repeating next year when it counts even more."

Wynne Gray is as excited as ever for the arrival of the Springboks and the Tri-Nations in The New Zealand Herald.

"All Blacks v Springboks. New Zealand against South Africa. Do the pulses quicken quite as much about duels between the superpowers as they did for those who watched the epic series in New Zealand in 1937, 1956 and 1981?

"Perhaps they do, but in a much different way from those infrequent visits of the Boks. Since the arrival of professional rugby in 1996, the men from South Africa have played annual tests in New Zealand.

"We have seen some extraordinary duels in that time in New Zealand, prefaced of course the year before by the controversy from that memorable World Cup shootout between the same sides."

Toby Robson believes that the arrival of Luke Rooney at Hawke's Bay points to a change in perception of the smaller unions in The Dominion Post.

"Former Aussie league star Luke Rooney's decision to head to Napier is further proof of changing attitudes to provincial unions, say Hawke's Bay rugby bosses.

"The 27-year-old has added his name to a Magpies roster that coach Peter Russell now believes is stronger than any others during his four-year tenure.

"Rooney, who can cover wing, fullback and centre, joins halfback Kahn Fotuali'i, first-five Dan Kirkpatrick, and prop Anthony Perenise as the new additions to Hawke's Bay's NPC squad."

Chris Rattue believes that "there is no such thing as a vulnerable Springbok team anymore" in The New Zealand Herald.

"Get them while they are not too hot. That's the best advice for the All Blacks, when they take on the world champion Springboks at the Eden Park construction site on Saturday night.

"There is no such thing as a vulnerable Springbok team anymore. They've got world-class and often over-sized rugby players coming out of their ears, a tried and trusted game plan, the best lineout in rugby history, and an easy confidence that will help see them through tough times.

"Even their madcap coach Peter de Villiers seems to be on to something. I used to think of him as a potential weak link but with so much experience in the 'Boks, he's turned into a jaunty, lippy conductor of a mighty juggernaut."

New Zealand PM John Key and All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw celebrate the side's recent win over Wales in Hamilton © Getty Images

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw should watch his back - because Prime Minister John Key says he risks getting tasered if he fails to win the Rugby World Cup next year. The Sydney Morning Herald's John Hartevelte reports.

"Mr Key this morning addressed an audience of Kiwi businessmen in South Korea's capital, Seoul. He joked he had given Mr McCaw the hard word about clinching the World Cup when New Zealand hosts the tournament next year.

"I've tried to tell Richie McCaw that it's very important - it's an election year," Key said.

If Mr McCaw won the cup "he may well become Sir Richard McCaw".

"Now I've encouraged him to get to know the minister of police, because I've decided that if he doesn't win the World Cup, maybe we could consider tasering him as well," Key said. "There is sort of an option either way there - we are an incentive-based political party."

Dylan Cleaver believes that the battle for the Tri-Nations could be done and dusted by July 17 if the Springboks get off to a flyer in The New Zealand Herald.

"Nobody will be so bold as to say it, but most know it to be true - the fate of the 2010 Tri-Nations could be known by July 17.

"A scheduling quirk has the Springboks playing two tests in two weeks in New Zealand to kick-off the Tri-Nations and if they are to continue their All Black-beating ways in Auckland and Wellington, you might as well crown them champions.

"It's a different scenario for the home team who will be mindful of the old golf adage that you can't win a tournament in the first round, but you can lose it."

Despite New Zealand franchises now being able to recruit two overseas players, Dylan Cleaver can't see major changes to the Super Rugby landscape, in The New Zealand Herald.

"Confirmation that Super rugby franchises will be allowed to contract two imports ineligible to play for the All Blacks might look like a giant leap into a brave new world, but it is likely to be a very small step instead.

"Rather than herald a cosmopolitan era of Super rugby, the effect of the rule change, which does not include the New Zealand Rugby Union-approved Pacific Island players, is likely to be minimal.

"There's about as much chance of basketball phenom LeBron James using his free agency to sign for the Waikato Pistons as there is of Brian O'Driscoll, Mike Phillips or even Felipe Contepomi making their way Downunder for a season or two."

Robin Brooke was set to become All Black captain until he was accused of having sex with a drunk teenage girl according to the New Zealand Herald's Jared Savage.

"The claim that Brooke was to take over from Randell was made by rugby journalist Phil Gifford on a television panel.

"And in an interview with the New Zealand Rugby Monthly soon after, Randell said Hart had told him Brooke would replace him.

"...But TVNZ's Close Up last night reported that Brooke lost his chance to be captain after he allegedly had sex with a drunk and "comatose" teenage girl 12 years ago.

"The current affairs show earlier said the alleged incident took place in 1998 - a year after the girl first met Brooke in July 1997 and they had consensual sex. She was 17 at the time. He was 30 and had been married for eight months."

Wynne Gray dissects the All Blacks' Tri-Nations squad and the selection of enigmatic back-rower Liam Messam in The New Zealand Herald.

"Multi-skilled Liam Messam has won the battle for the All Blacks' looseforward vacancy as the selectors continue to tinker with those on the edges of their Tri-Nations squad.

"Messam has been a yo-yo selection for the All Blacks since his 2008 debut, a player with a huge array of talent and captain of the NZ Maori, but an erratic reputation as well. He has played three tests and been left out of a number of other campaigns.

"However, his growing leadership and versatile impact under the rule changes persuaded the selectors to pick him yesterday in their 28-strong squad for the six Tri-Nations tests against the Springboks and Wallabies."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Wynne Grey is a little puzzled by the suggestion that Aaron Cruden could provide the All Blacks cover at scrum-half.

"All coaches need to think outside the square, they like to challenge convention, search for alternatives.

"The current group have had their share of curious selections, like Soseni Anesi and Campbell Johnstone, but the most leftfield in their term might have been No 8 Steven Bates in 2004.

"But Aaron Cruden as a halfback? Was that Henry's version of the Peter Taylor moment in Australian cricket when most thought the selectors meant Mark Taylor when the names were read out. Did Henry perhaps mean Aaron Smith, the NZ Maori halfback who also comes from Manawatu?"

All Blacks rookie Rene Ranger is the latest "project" to cross the All Black coaches' horizon according to the New Zealand Herald's Wynne Gray.

"The 23-year-old was about to go fishing a week ago when he got a call to join the All Blacks in Hamilton as cover for the injured Israel Dagg and Conrad Smith.

"Now Ranger is in the Tri-Nations squad, a survivor of the selection cull which eliminated competition from Zac Guildford, Ben Smith and Luke McAlister.

"...The All Blacks last special project was Isaia Toeava, who was taken as a teenager on the 2005 end of year tour, has played 26 tests and is recovering after pelvic surgery last month."

After watching the All Blacks close out a series win against Wales, The Independent's Chris Hewett asks whether New Zealand are flirting with presumptions of greatness once again.

"The All Blacks should know everything they need to know about pride going before a fall, having landed splat on their silver-ferned posteriors at every World Cup since winning the first in 1987. But with the entire country turning its collective mind towards next year's global gathering on home soil, are the national team flirting with presumptions of greatness once again?

"Steve Hansen, one of their senior coaches, seems to think so. After his side stumbled to victory over a rookie Welsh side, he said: "We can step up into the big boys' league now, and we can go in with some confidence if we keep things smart and simple and people do their jobs."

"Big boys' league? By that, he meant the forthcoming Tri-Nations featuring Australia and South Africa. By implication , he also meant that Ireland and Wales were small by comparison. Given the way the Welsh made their hosts suffer at the set piece, it was an interesting put-down."

The New Zealand Maori celebrate a famous win over England © Getty Images

The future of Maori rugby looks a lot brighter than it did a fortnight ago, but the time remains ripe to debate how that future is configured, according the New Zealand Herald's Dylan Clever.

"The wins against Ireland and England were largely lost among the hype that surrounded the All Whites' improbable World Cup campaign, which is a shame because it stands as a landmark achievement at a pivotal time.

"If coach Jamie Joseph was asked once during this short centenary tour about the future of Maori rugby, he was asked a thousand times. Repetition did not make the question any less weighty or complex.

"There is no easy answer. With the New Zealand Rugby Union posting a record loss last year and the pressure to reclaim the World Cup increasing by the day, balancing the twin pillars of commercial and high-performance success has never been more difficult.

The Maori are an uneasy fit with either aim."

Balancing the rival elements of experience and excitement has been a hefty task for the All Blacks as they approach their return test against Wales, according to the New Zealand Herald's Wynne Gray.

"Captain Richie McCaw revealed it had been necessary to keep a check on some of the senior players as they eyed their return to international rugby, while the rest needed to lift their bite for Saturday's test in Hamilton.

"His side could not afford to start as slowly as they had last weekend at Carisbrook, where they lacked an edge to much of their play in the opening spell.

"It is hard because we had to make sure we were not ready to play on Tuesday. There is always a knack to make sure that by Saturday, your attitude is dead right," he said."

Luke McAlister says his body is now fine © Getty Images

Luke McAlister is crossing his fingers that his injury respite during his time with New Zealand Maori marks the start of an upturn in his rugby fortunes in the New Zealand Herald.

McAlister, who missed out on All Blacks selection for the home test programme against Ireland and Wales, has played 80 minutes at second five-eighth in both the Maori team's matches so far.

"The body's fine," he said. "I'm just stoked to be able to get a couple of 80 minutes under the belt.

"It's been a frustrating year. It's good to be able to put back-to-back games together and hopefully this is the last of my bad luck."

Police refused seven people entry after breath-testing visitors as they came through the gates to view one of New Zealand's oldest school rugby fixtures. Edward Gay reports for the New Zealand Herald.

"Thirty police officers breath-tested all of the 4000 spectators as they entered Christ College to watch the school take on rivals Christchurch Boys High, only waving school buses through their checkpoint. A spokesperson for Christchurch Central police said seven people had been turned away from the game, which was won by Christchurch Boys High for the tenth year in a row.

"Christchurch Boys High School principal Trevor McIntyre said the schools have been playing each other for the last 122 years but if bad behaviour at the match did not improve, the fixture could be canned.

"He said one of the longest standing rugby match-ups in New Zealand's history could not continue to be dogged by bad behaviour so the schools had chosen to take the "extreme" measure of breath testing spectators."

Richard Loe, writing in The New Zealand Herald, was pleased with the All Blacks' second-half showing as they routed Wales.

"I said at halftime at Carisbrook that the All Blacks would run away with it in the second half ... and so they did. You could see it coming.

"The Welsh tried to live with the All Blacks at the pace they were playing and you could just tell they wouldn't be able to hang on.

"The referee, Mr George Clancy, played a part in that. I thought he ran the advantage well and let both sides have good time with the ball. If it had been more of a stop-start match, with the game halting every time the ref saw an infringement, I think Wales would have hung in there longer."

After six years as Graham Henry's assistant, Steve Hansen wants a crack at being the All Blacks head coach, according to Gregor Paul in the Sunday Herald.

"After a stint with Ireland and what will be a four-year tour of duty with Wales, Warren Gatland wouldn't mind a crack at the All Blacks' job either when Henry steps down - most probably after the World Cup next year.

"These last two weeks have carried a little extra frisson of tension as a consequence, with both men aware the selection process has already begun. Hansen, so well known to the New Zealand Rugby Union hierarchy; so entrenched in the All Black camp; and so obviously liked by the players; appears to be in an unassailable position."

New Zealand's Israel Dagg is determined to follow up his impressive debut against Ireland with another eye-catching display against Wales on Saturday. The New Zealand Herald's Wynne Grey reports.

"A false dawn, a false read? It is the toughest part for a fledgling All Black after making the sort of quality debut six of them did last week at New Plymouth. They all played their part in a game which became a mismatch after 15 minutes when Irish No 8 Jamie Heaslip was sent off.

"They should all get a second chance tomorrow against Wales at Carisbrook, to show if they can reproduce their debut standards. One of those new faces is Israel Dagg, the 22-year-old fullback, who glided round Yarrow Stadium in a manner which compared strongly with the injured Mils Muliaina."

All Blacks assistant coach Waynes Smith surveys his side in New Plymouth last week © Getty Images

Passion and endurance have marked Wayne Smith's time in the fishbowl world of coaching the All Blacks according to Wynne grey in the New Zealand Herald.

"He admits the pressure can be suffocating, that he often feels wrung out at the end of each campaign but accepts those issues as part of the deal.

"The academic side of Smith seems to be more in harmony with his emotions, he is more balanced than his most taxing times as head coach.

"Smith is in his 11th season tutoring, mentoring and guiding the latest All Black crop, a group who began this campaign with an encouraging opening victory helped by Ireland's indiscipline.

"I got into coaching because I couldn't play any more and I still wanted to be part of the contest, part of the team," he explained yesterday. "Without sounding egotistical about it, it reflects winning, and so as you win you get put into positions higher up the ladder and with that comes pressure."

Hugh Farrelly talks to Ireland's latest skipper, fullback Geordan Murphy, about facing up to the haka prior to Friday's meeting with the New Zealand Maori in The Irish Independent.

"The haka promises to be something special when Ireland line up against the New Zealand Maori on Friday night, but it may come as a surprise to the host team to learn that the Irish captain has been on the other side of the fence when it comes to the Maori war dance, writes Hugh Farrelly.

"When he was a student at Newbridge College in Kildare, Geordan Murphy was part of an exchange scheme with Auckland Grammar, a famed rugby school in New Zealand, and during that time performed his share of hakas.

"He went on to face New Zealand's haka eight times, seven with Ireland and once with the Lions in 2005 and it provides a unique insight into the practice and its importance to the Maori culture."

After watching a raft of substitutions stip the All Blacks of momentum in their crushing victory over Ireland, the Sunday Herald's Richard Loe believes no one benefits when team rings wholesale changes.

"I hate to sound like a grumpy old man but I have had a crack at this before. I think it is better, even if you are trying to give people test match experience, to give them a run in the starting team.

"Sometimes, you see all the substitutions made in a game like that and you wonder what anyone gets out of it, really.

"You know, people like Victor Vito and Aaron Cruden who are trying to show they belong here. The game had got messy and destabilised and the best you could say about that kind of player is that the jury is still out."

Rugby's domination of New Zealand sport is under threat from growing interest in the nation's footballers at the World Cup according to Paul Rees in The Guardian.

"New Zealand and World Cups have tended not to go together in the past 20 years but, if the All Blacks are usually installed as favourites to win the rugby union version only to implode, the country's football side, who were dubbed the All Whites in the build-up to their only other appearance in the World Cup in 1982, have never been encumbered by expectation.

"Yet the All Whites manager, Ricki Herbert, believes football has overtaken rugby in the popularity stakes in New Zealand, as it briefly did 28 years ago when the team's Spanish sojourn coincided with a disenchantment with the oval ball game. The year before a contentious tour by South Africa was bedevilled by anti-apartheid protests, one of which forced the cancellation of a game in Hamilton."

Seldom does the New Zealand Rugby Union move with the subtlety and agility that it has displayed in the securing of Sonny Bill Williams for its depleted player ranks. The New Zealand Herald heaps praise on the NZRU in an editorial.

"Up against the much bigger money offered by his French club Toulon, the union has wooed Williams without being able to commit absolutely to the one thing he most wants - a place in the All Blacks for the World Cup.

"Quite how it has structured his contract and how incentive payments might work in his favour are not yet clear.

"What is clear is that New Zealand rugby without trading All Black jerseys as bait will soon have another potential star for the year before D-Day on Labour Weekend 2011.

"What is also clear is that Williams has shown that he does, truly, want to play for the All Blacks."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Duncan Johnstone is impressed by the All Blacks showing against Ireland and one rising stat in particular.

"No hype surrounds Benson Stanley - unlike another young man about to push his claims for the All Blacks No.12 jersey - but the Auckland inside-centre showed why understatement can still be fashionable, especially in a provincial setting like New Plymouth.

"Let's get one thing straight - this was a good night to debut as the Irish capitulated through a mix of their own foolishness and relentless All Blacks pressure.

"But there was more than enough from Stanley to suggest he will be a worthy candidate as the selectors ponder their options for the World Cup next year."

Inga Tuigamala praises the All Blacks for getting their man after Sonny Bill Williams signed with the NZRU in The New Zealand Herald.

"Graham Henry and his troops have done the right thing by going out and getting Sonny Bill Williams.

"Sport needs its personalities - star factor, call it what you like - and Sonny Bill has that in spades. Most of all though he's a phenomenal player, the type of athlete that comes along just a few times in any generation. We're talking a Jonah Lomu-type talent here, Michael Jones, John Kirwan, above the mere mortals."

The New Zealand Herald's Dylan Cleaver looks into a new initiative to keep unruly parents under wraps at youth games.

"Auckland rugby bosses have compiled Ten Commandments for schoolboy rugby matches in a bid to stop unruly parents and others ranting from the sidelines.

"The campaign follows last year's drive to end the abuse of referees by players' supporters watching from the touch line. Club rugby manager Matt McHardy said that while that drive targeted junior club rugby - age 13 and under - this year's included secondary school rugby."

All Blacks rugby centre Conrad Smith is excited about the prospect of combining with Sonny Bill Williams after the former Kiwis league international moved a step closer to a black jersey today in The Dominion Post.

"Yeah, for sure. I'm just glad that, if he does play, he's playing in New Zealand. If we've got hold of him rather than playing overseas then it'll be good."

Former All Black Richard Loe cannot comprehend why the selectors have chosen three injured players in the squad against Ireland in the NZ Herald.

“For the life of me, I can't understand the All Blacks selectors choosing three injured players with little or no chance of playing against Ireland on Saturday.

“Mils Muliaina, Richard Kahui and Tom Donnelly are all unlikely to front and the obvious question is: why were they selected in the first place?

“What's wrong with a phone call to say: "Gee, we wanted to select you but you're injured and haven't played enough rugby. But don't worry - you're still the player we want in that position when you're right." I mean, what could be simpler?”

It's time for the All Blacks' big guns to click, and click fast, according to Duncan Johnstone on stuff.co.nz.

"The All Blacks coaches will place bigger than usual pressure on senior players to get the team into gear quickly for next week's test against Ireland in New Plymouth.

"They have to on several fronts. Often slow starters – remember last year's wobbles against France and Italy – the All Blacks face a worthy and dangerous opponent in Ireland who have the added advantage of a warm-up match against the British Barbarians this year.

"The New Zealand coaches are operating against a backdrop of a sloppy Super 14 campaign from all of the Kiwi franchises."

Wynne Gray admits to being puzzled by the selection of Piri Weepu in the All Blacks' squad to face Ireland and Wales in The New Zealand Herald.

"Halfbacks Piri Weepu and Jimmy Cowan made their All Black debuts a week apart on the same tour to Europe in late 2004.

"They were part of a backs division which carried familiar names such as Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu and Daniel Carter alongside a pack which has undergone serious changes since.

"Seven years later Weepu and Cowan are the preferred halfbacks for the June internationals, blokes who have each played more than 30 tests without quite nailing it."

Steve Deane takes a look at the reaction to Andy Haden's controversial allegations against the Crusaders in The New Zealand Herald.

"For some reason race remains an area of fascination for many of the games' followers. There seems to be a fairly widespread belief that achieving some kind of mythical racial balance is vital to success. Sounds like cobblers to me, but it's hardly the sort of thing that needs discussing in the shadows.

"If all it takes is a flippant darkie reference and a bit of a dig at a franchise - named, amusingly enough, after largely white armies bent on religious persecution - to derail the whole discussion, then sadly this country lacks the maturity to have a proper public debate about race and sport.

It's fine to say what you really think in a private conversation, but say it in a public forum and Campbell Live will be on your doorstep in a flash."

Writing in the Sunday Herald, Richard Loe believes Andy Haden's recent accusation that the Crusaders select on racial lines is so wrong it is not funny.

"It's all about planning, structure and ability - balancing a team to produce best results.

"That's where Andy's got it wrong. Quota? Never heard of it. We're very amenable down here in Christchurch. We like to fit in with what people want. Why, we've even changed the name of our stadium three times in about three years to fit in with what some people want.

"Seriously, if there is an unwritten rule in the Crusaders, it's not about ethnic stuff. It's been long said that there are two main criteria for Crusaders' players: 1) a good person and 2) a good rugby player. In that order."

Andrew Austin salutes the beginning of a golden era for South African rugby, and wishes that the All Blacks had some of their selection conundrums, in The New Zealand Herald.

"What Graham Henry would give to have Springbok coach Pieter de Villiers' selection headaches. The Boks may have won two Rugby World Cups, but history would suggest that the last time South Africa had this much talent was in the early 1980s.

"Those were the days of exciting runners like Danie Gerber and the Du Plessis brothers, Carel and Michael. The forwards were not too shabby either, with Schalk Burger snr and Hennie Bekker (the fathers of Stormers' stars Schalk and Andries) and talented opensider Rob Louw. The big problem with that team was that it did not play much thanks to apartheid."

The cutoff for the All Blacks squad is supposed to be 26 but when the first squad is revealed on Sunday do not be surprised if there are a few others named to turn up for the opening training camp in Auckland according to the New Zealand Herald's Wynne Gray.

"Coach Graham Henry has stoked the fires of curiosity this season with hints there will be new faces when the squad is unveiled at Mt Albert Grammar.

"Who? Benson Stanley, Rene Ranger or Colin Slade for the midfield vacancy, Kahn Fotuali'i or Alby Mathewson at halfback or the abrasive talents of Victor Vito and Sam Whitelock in the pack?

"...The big problem is second five-eighths. Benson Stanley has been the most reliable this season, far sounder than an underdone Luke McAlister or a steady Callum Bruce. But [Mils] Muliaina and Richard Kahui are explosive athletes, versatile and strong defenders and one will slip into the midfield vacancy and the other into the reserves."

The New Zealand Government is refusing to join the New Zealand Rugby Union in apologising for the exclusion of Maori from previous All Blacks tours to South Africa. Michael Dickison and and Edward Gay report for the New Zealand Herald.

"The 1960 tour to South Africa was sanctioned by the New Zealand Government and the then Prime Minister Walter Nash argued that to include Maori in the side "would be an act of the greatest folly and cruelty to the Maori race".

"Prime Minister John Key was asked by Green Party foreign affairs spokesman Keith Locke whether he would be apologising for the Government's role in sanctioning the tours.

"In a written answer last night, Mr Key said: "No. This was a matter between the rugby unions".

"Mr Locke said New Zealand should follow the Government of South African Government which has offered an apology, albeit through the media by way of a public letter."

Graham Henry speaks to The New Zealand Herald's Wynne Gray about the challenge facing the All Blacks as hosts of next year's Rugby World Cup.

In a wide-ranging interview, the All Black coach reveals that two of his biggest worries are the scrum and the lack of player depth in New Zealand. This year was both a separate season and formative steps for the seventh World Cup.

"If we just put all our focus on the World Cup, I think we would fall over and be highly embarrassed," Henry said. "I think we just need to get better at what we are doing through each of these campaigns and if we do that, we are going to have a good foundation for the World Cup."

This season the All Blacks coaches have visited each franchise several times, swapped information, ideas and plans with the staff and spoken to players.

"We started that this year so we could perfect it for next season. But will that be sufficient? That is the challenge because we have five weeks of contact in 2011 with the All Blacks rugby team as a group before we play the Rugby World Cup. In contrast, the European teams will play Six Nations, then have a break and through May, June, July they will prime themselves for World Cup. So it is quite a different build-up. For the Southern Hemisphere sides it is a lot more challenging."

Next year New Zealand will have to find 20 new professional players as Super 15 squads expand from 28 to a minimum of 30 and maximum of 32. Every coach will want 32 - but from where will they come? The Sunday Herald's Gregor Paul asks the question.

"Places for two foreign players a franchise will help, although it's difficult to believe that, initially at least, we will see the maximum 10 foreigners contracted next year.

"...Jonny Wilkinson, Brian O'Driscoll and James Hook are the sort who add real value. They will put bums on seats, build credibility and make visible contributions on the field.

"If Wilkinson earns a reputed €408,000 ($760,000) a season after tax at Toulon, is he going to come to New Zealand?

"Plenty of Australians and South Africans will fancy it. The problem with that is it creates a merry-go-round where the talent pool doesn't expand, components simply swap places.

"Some Argentinians will come, but not the big names and not players who will either add commercial value or be discernibly better than domestic options."

Maori former All Blacks have welcomed NZRU's apology to Maori players excluded from All Blacks teams because of apartheid, saying "it had to come" and was the "right thing to do". The New Zealand Herald reports.

"Former All Black Waka Nathan, who was a young member of the Maori All Blacks when Maori were excluded from a South Africa tour in 1960, said an apology was the "right thing to do".

"I thought it was very good indeed, for New Zealand especially - we have always been against apartheid. It never even entered our minds," Nathan said.

"However, not all former Maori rugby players were so charitable about the NZRU's actions.

"The NZRU merely "towed along behind South Africa" to make a "token" apology to Maori this morning, says a player who missed out on his best chance to make the All Blacks due to racially-based selection policies."

Rugby World Cup 2011 chief Martin Snedden wades in on the recent controversy surrounding overpriced accomodation for the event in The New Zealand Herald.

"No one should back off this current debate about Rugby World Cup 2011 accommodation pricing. It is timely and will ultimately be helpful. Charging fair prices will be one of the factors critical to making this event a success.

"We want our visitors to enjoy their stay, linger long and leave with special memories. Let's face it. Our country has probably never had a better international profiling and marketing opportunity. This is not just about 45 days next year. It's also about our future well beyond Rugby World Cup 2011.

"The stark reality here is that we only get one crack at hosting this. If we don't get it right the first time, we don't get the chance to learn from our mistakes. Get this right and our international reputation will soar. Taint it by irresponsible profiteering within any aspect of hosting the event as a nation and we'll suffer badly. The consequential reputational and financial damage will be significant."

The New Zealand Herald's Paul Lewis has nothing but fear and contempt as the Queens Wharf project continues to stall in the build up to the Rugby World Cup.

"With apologies to Martin Luther King, I have a dream. Rugby World Cup minister Murray McCully and Auckland Regional Council head Mike Lee are in a large building on Queens Wharf.

"It is a giant tent which covers and links two sheds. The two men are inside, standing around a big punch bowl, surrounded by bunting and other jolly party stuff. They are alone. The wind is blowing.

"Down the road, at the Viaduct, the party is in full swing after the 2011 Rugby World Cup final. People are hanging off the walls, dancing in the streets, sloshing their drinks. They are having great fun. Back at the giant tent (all right, I know it's not really going to be a tent but the image was too good not to dream about), McCully shifts uncomfortably. A napkin is blown across the empty floor space, like a dead weed across the tundra."

Winger Joe Rokocoko has been in fine form for the Blues in recent weeks © Getty Images

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Gregor Paul wonders whether Joe Rokocoko has played his way back into the All Blacks starting line-up.

"Similar to Mark Twain's death, reports of the counter-attack wing being back in business might be greatly exaggerated.

"It happens every year - the Super14 seduces people into believing test football will be wild and adventurous. That it will be won by cavaliers, not roundheads.

"The reality, even under the current law interpretations, is that kick and chase football will still be effective and the No 1 priority for anyone playing in the back three is proficiency under the high ball.

"All Black defence coach Wayne Smith believes the balance might have swung back a little towards the power athlete; that there is more of a need to have wings who can use the ball effectively."

Wynne Gray calls for a moment of common sense following Ma'a Nonu's expletive-laden post-match interview last week in The New Zealand Herald.

"The midfielder, by all accounts, was a little bit emotional after a tough win for the 'Canes when a radio reporter plonked a microphone under his nose and asked a few questions.

"What did the soundbite searcher expect? "Oh, I'm really tired now but it was wonderful to get a victory and stay in the hunt for the Super 14 playoffs." Instead he got the raw emotion of the moment and those back in the studio chose to broadcast the response.

"If they did not like the tenor of the conversation, they could have cancelled it with their dump button.Nonu had just scored two tries as part of a great Hurricanes comeback and, when interviewed, let rip with seven expletives in a short space of time."

Former Crusaders coach Robbie Deans is now in charge of the Wallabies © Getty Images

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Chris Rattue believes that New Zealand rugby sorely misses former Crusaders coach and now Wallabies boss Robbie Deans.

"Deans could speak as strangely as the next rugby man - apart from John Mitchell obviously - but unlike the other wafflers he put results on the board.

"Now, the Crusaders are sliding down the slope, where they will crash into all the other useless New Zealand franchises.

"The New Zealand teams may play fancy football at times, but in this level of sport the aim is to win trophies. And the prospects are as dire as last season when the Waikato lambs headed to an inevitable final slaughter in Pretoria.

"The powerful, determined Deans alone among New Zealand coaches knew how to compete for titles by creating an empire where scouting, development, selection and coaching were spot on."

All Black sides have often had a player with the x-factor heading into a World Cup but, as Gregor Paul of the New Zealand Herald reports, there doesn't seem to be one this time around.

"It feels like there's something missing from the national game at the moment. It's not just that New Zealand's teams have been a little flat, either. It's bigger than that.

"The Super 14 hasn't unearthed anyone new and exciting this year. No new heroes have arrived offering something different; something that looks capable of taking the All Blacks to a new level.

"And, 16 months out from the World Cup, the All Blacks are in need of something a little different. What they have is a core of well-known, experienced players. Dan Carter and Richie McCaw don't so much offer x-factor as the ability to perform the basics at a higher level than everyone else."

Highlanders scrum-half Jimmy Cowan reflects on defeat against the Hurricanes © Getty Images

Inga Tuigamala believes that we have reached a point where New Zealand doesn't actually have sufficient talent to warrant five truly competitive Super 14 teams. Read his thoughts in the New Zealand Herald.

"Just as the Super competition is supposed to be on the rise with a new team in Australia, New Zealand's form has plummeted in the other direction.

"In other words, do we still need the Highlanders? I doubt that the New Zealand Rugby Union would ever contemplate reducing the number of our Super teams - it's just not the done thing of course.

"And we will all hope that a brilliant turnaround can be engineered, and quickly. But I make this point to illustrate how bad things have got.

"There is a very real chance that the semfinals will not include any New Zealand teams this season, and not one of our teams is playing close to the standards we expect. I'm actually shocked at how bad the situation is."

Gregor Paul is worried that New Zealand's cupboard may be bare post Rugby World Cup in The New Zealand Herald.

"In a perverse way, it was fortunate for New Zealand rugby that the 2007 World Cup campaign was such a major disaster.Crashing out in the quarterfinal left the senior All Blacks angry and determined to make amends.

"Had the All Blacks made the final, given it everything and come up short, it's unlikely so many key players would have signed on for another crack in 2011. But the horror of Cardiff was too strong to ignore. Those involved couldn't walk away from New Zealand like that.

"The New Zealand Rugby Union had an inkling those demons could be exploited. Having seen seven of the 2007 World Cup squad head offshore after the tournament, the national body had to move fast in 2008 to stop others from disappearing."

You'd have to say it would be a strange side if you were picking an All Black team right now according to Richard Loe in the New Zealand Herald.

"It's not long until the June tests and, while that won't be worrying the All Black selectors overmuch when you take into account the greater scheme of things, the rest of us are looking a bit sideways at our overall rugby form.

We know Super 14 form mostly doesn't translate into international form but there are still some worrying signs so far this year - particularly the Chiefs' disgraceful exhibition against the Stormers on Friday.

If we took the no injuries/form criteria, I believe the All Black team right now would look something like this: Andrew Hore, Owen Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Brad Thorn, Chris Jack, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Alby Mathewson, Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Zac Guildford, Rudi Wulf, Cory Jane. Substitutes: Keven Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Jeremy Thrush, Adam Thomson, Brendon Leonard, Steven Donald, Isaia Toeava."

Maori rugby's centenary has coincided with claims of cheating and influenced results. The New Zealand Herald's Michael Brown reports on a new allegation and on how Maori have been central characters in New Zealand rugby.

"Billy Bush is adamant he was unfairly targeted in a decision that cost the All Blacks victory against South Africa in 1976 - because he was Maori.

"It was in the last minute of the fourth and final test at the end of the long tour of the Republic when South African referee Gert Bezuidenhout blasted on his whistle and awarded a penalty for the home side for an infringement in the lineout. Bezuidenhout identified Bush as the culprit.

"The big prop was incredulous but his protestations mattered little as Gerald Bosch kicked the penalty to hand South Africa a 15-14 victory and a 3-1 series win.

He feels now he was pinpointed because he had been deliberately provocative throughout the tour, trying to get up the nose of the establishment who clearly resented the presence of a brown player in apartheid South Africa."

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples has led calls for an apology to the Maori players from the rugby union © Getty Images

In an editorial, the New Zealand Herald asks what would be achieved by the NZRU apologising for the exclusion of Maori players from All Black tours to the republic in 1928, 1949 and 1960 on racial grounds.

"Saying sorry has become very much a 21st century feel-good phenomenon. Rugby has not been immune. Individual players, notably Tana Umaga and Norm Hewitt, have offered public apologies, surely at the union's behest, for unacceptable off-field behaviour. In the way of modern practice, these, however, were more about damage control than anything else.

"If an apology is to be appropriate, it should offer a step towards understanding and reconciliation. Those who feel they should be on the receiving end should find it a cathartic experience that enables them to put misfortune behind them. Neither pertains to the excluded Maori rugby players. Everybody already accepts this was a disgrace. The appeasing of the apartheid regime and its racist policies is a stain that will never be expunged from the union's history. But Maori rugby, for its part, has surely long consigned the injustice to history, and proceeded to fashion an impressive record in international encounters."

Former All Black George Nepia is one of those Maori players to have missed out on international recognition between 1928 and 1960 © Getty Images

The New Zealand Rugby Union has been criticised for refusing to apologise for not selecting Maori players in All Blacks squads that toured South Africa between 1928 and 1960. The New Zealand Herald's Chris Rattue says it is about time they did.

"Here goes. On behalf of whoever would like to join this movement, I apologise to the Maori people and the rugby players involved for the disgraceful injustice visited upon them a few moons ago.

"The New Zealand Rugby Union may continue to refuse to apologise for the racist selection policies between 1928 and 1960, when they selected three white-only All Black touring teams to protect their precious footy matches by appeasing South Africa's apartheid system. That doesn't mean the rest of us can't make it clear we would like to do whatever is necessary to try to right a terrible wrong committed by the rugby union, and our society as a whole.

"This apology is not a gimmick, or another way of bashing an NZRU administration for which I have little respect. The apology is heartfelt and sincere, and something I have called on the rugby union to do previously."

Chris Rattue challenges the Blues to follow up their win over the Bulls with more of the same or better in The New Zealand Herald.

"Here's the wee challenge for the Blues.The concept is quite simple, even if largely foreign to this mad mob over most of the past decade.

"Take what you did so impressively against the Bulls on Saturday and (trumpets, lights, firecrackers) ... DO IT AGAIN THIS WEEK. It's a novel idea, playing really well two weeks in a row. The Blues could even flirt with the bizarre and actually improve on the performance when they take on the Stormers at Eden Park on Saturday.

"No doubt everyone is in a chipper mood in the Blues camp right now, having handed the champion Bulls their first defeat of the season. From what you hear, the Blues are pretty chipper anyway, win, lose or draw."

Wayne Barnes will be back in the middle of it this summer © Getty Images

Wynne Gray is eagerley anticipating Wayne Barnes' refereeing appearance on New Zealand soil in The New Zealand Herald.

"At last the wait is over. The dream team is coming to a town near you.Come June 12 when the All Blacks open their domestic campaign in New Plymouth, Wayne Barnes will be in charge. Yep that's right, Wayne Barnes, he of the pale complexion, questionable eyesight and unerring silence after the 2007 World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff.

"Barnes reffed an All Black test against Scotland a year later and has run touch for their games in this part of the world. But, despite vigorous references from International Rugby Board referees' boss Paddy O'Brien, Barnes has not whistled his Acme Thunderer in an All Black test here.

"O'Brien reckoned Barnes was "the brightest star we have on our books" after the World Cup but those stellar qualities were sheltered from twinkling in New Zealand."

Inga Tuigamala calls for a return to neutral refereeing in the Super 14 following Blues coach Pat Lam's issues in Sydney in The New Zealand Herald.

"Rugby should turn the clock back to ensure a more legitimate future. I'm talking about referees, and the use of the neutral system. The Super 14 has abandoned the use of neutral referees, presumably to save costs. But the competition should do a u-turn, and use neutral referees and touch judges.

"I have a fair deal of sympathy for Blues coach Pat Lam, who claimed that the inexperienced Garratt Williamson from New Zealand was unduly influenced by his two Australian touch judges in the Waratahs' favour in Sydney last week.

"Referees and touch judges are having an enormous influence on the outcome of games - overly so unfortunately. It would be far better if the players were the only ones who settled the outcomes, but the way things are going, it is doubly important to ensure that referees have the best chance of doing an even-handed job."

Chris Rattue laments the same old "flash, dash, flop" from the Blues in The New Zealand Herald.

"It's official. The Blues are ... the same old Blues, unfortunately. In other words, they are not going to win the Super 14 title this year, next year, and probably for a long time.

"As sure as Stephen Brett gets a kick charged down in every game, what was once the pride of New Zealand rugby is now a horror show of misused talent. Maths says they can still make the finals. History says they won't, after blowing a surefire victory in Sydney.

"The Blues do deserve credit on one score - they can be very entertaining, and that is not to be sniffed at. They have been involved in two excellent games, viewing wise, against the Brumbies and Waratahs. So the news is not all bad. They find and promote very interesting footballers, the latest being Rene Ranger. Then again, we should expect this, with the Blues being in the Polynesian rugby heartland, and the biggest population area in a rugby country."

Former All Black, Inga Tuigamala believes Carl Hayman has made the correct decision for himself in the New Zealand Herald.

"The big news of the week was Carl Hayman's decision to stay in Europe rather than come home to chase a place in the World Cup team next year.

"I believe he has made the right decision in many ways. As a player, you've got to be careful on these matters, and make sure you aren't trying to relive the old days. His decision wouldn't have been made with the heart - he would have been very tempted to experience putting the black jersey on again. I still feel like that sometimes, and I've been retired for 10 years."

Stephen Jones can't see a northern hemisphere team challenging for honours at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in The Times.

"It has come to my attention that there are one or two of you out there who do not want New Zealand to win the 2011 World Cup. This is very uncharitable. Naturally I am rooting for the All Blacks to take the title, and for the nation to accept this triumph with its usual modesty, good grace and concern for the beaten sides.

"However, it must be said that following the France-England match last week in Paris, all those contemptible people who do wish ill on New Zealand will now be very worried indeed. Especially with Ireland in a possible decline, I simply cannot see that a European team can come remotely close to winning next year in New Zealand, and so we could be relying on the Springboks to do the necessary.

"Let us deal with France first. They have been very good this season. But for me, the frailties they showed on Saturday evening were marked, and very worrying indeed. When they found that England were hanging on grimly and turning in a good performance, you could almost see their legs and their minds turn to jelly."

Can Rene Ranger make an impact with the All Blacks? © Getty Images

Chris Rattue believes that the in-form Rene Rnager can spark the All Blacks' backline from the wing in The New Zealand Herald.

"Rene Ranger. Now there's the future for rugby, even if Ranger's own future is clouded at the moment by an upcoming court case. How did Ben Smith end up in the All Blacks last year while Rene Ranger didn't? Actually, how did Smith end up in the All Blacks full stop?

"Ranger - who plays wing or centre - is what rugby desperately needs, a powerful outside back with an individual style. If he's not busting through defenders, he hurls them aside. Ranger can make something out of nothing and draw the crowds.

"With absolutely no disrespect to the classy Cory Jane, who has proved a much smarter test player than might have been expected, what the game doesn't need are smallish, converted fullbacks patrolling the flanks."

Gregor Paul has run out of patience with troubled Chiefs skipper Sione Lauaki in The New Zealand Herald.

"Compassion and sympathy have surely been exhausted in the sad case of Sione Lauaki.He's had every chance to exorcise his demons; been given all the help - and more - anyone could ever want.

"And still he found himself charged with assault on Wednesday. Good will is running thin for Lauaki. It may even have run out. Once the judicial system has processed him, he'll have to face his employer. It could be for the last time. Lauaki, once an All Black of considerable promise, could become the first New Zealand professional player to have his contract terminated. The NZRU would see that as a disaster, but how many chances should Lauaki be given?

"He pleaded guilty to assault in February 2006 and was given diversion and then discharged without conviction. The assault took place in the early hours outside a bar in Hamilton."

If Sonny Bill Williams wants to play in 2011 Rugby World Cup he has a major philosophical decision to make, according to Gregor Paul in the Herald on Sunday.

"The pain will start in his wallet. He's a phenomenal athlete. He was a brilliant rugby league player and the poster boy of the NRL. That was enough for Toulon, a club with deep pockets and a volatile owner, to offer him an estimated $600,000 a season. He won't get anywhere near that to come home. Toulon are not the bastion of financial prudence, though.

"Ambition has been allowed to distort good judgement and their wage bill is skyscraper high. French club rugby does not practice restraint and Williams has been the beneficiary of the think big, spend big approach that is rife in the Top 14.

In almost two seasons, he has played just 19 games, switching between centre and wing, and recently he has been pushed into the back row in the final quarter. Currently sitting in fifth place, Toulon are content they have had value for money from Williams. But the New Zealand Rugby Union are a different kettle of fish. They don't benefit from the largesse of a tycoon owner. They have a more defined system of financial accountability and they also have a treasured brand to protect."

Are the Chiefs the real deal? © Getty Images

Dylan Cleaver believes that Chiefs fans should be wary following their side's unbeaten opening to the Super 14 season in The New Zealand Herald.

"The Chiefs would have returned home last night feeling like all their Christmases had come at once - but there's a Grinch sitting in the corner drinking Ian Foster's eggnog. The Chiefs have beaten the Sharks, the Lions and the Force, three teams that look likely to occupy the lower reaches of the table when the championship ends. They needed a last-minute penalty to scrape home against an increasingly dysfunctional Sharks and conceded 65 points against a woeful Lions line-up a week later.

"The Force? Injuries have left them hopelessly under-manned. Those are the reasons for Chiefs' fans to temper their expectations, which have no doubt ratcheted up several notches, but there are many more reasons to usher the Grinch out of the room.

"First, you need a bit of luck when it comes to the draw, especially when you do not have the capacity to play opponents home and away over the course of a season (which is, ultimately, the only way to run a fair competition, but that's another argument altogether). The key is to make the most of a fortuitous draw."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Wynne Gray rues the fact that the All Blacks have only had a couple of contenders to qualify for a list of halfback greats in the past two decades.

"More than 20 players have worn the black No 9 jersey in that time with Graeme Bachop, by some distance, the classiest performer. Bachop was brilliant, the best of the lot. Like all players he had moments when his game left him, but the fundamentals of his iron-wristed bullet pass, fierce acceleration, cover defence and tidy kicking game placed him at the head of the queue.

By dint of his longevity, Justin Marshall will have many supporters. What he lacked in some classic skills he superceded with his combative nature and rugby instincts in an extended career. The current crew of Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Brendon Leonard, Andy Ellis and Alby Mathewson - yes they have all toured with the All Blacks in the past few years - all have their strengths without that commanding presence."

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The New Zealand Rugby Union has tried to soften Graham Henry's image by encouraging the former headmaster to be less "principally". Dylan Cleaver writes in the New Zealand Herald.

"The revelation is included in a 12-part series starting next week on nzherald.co.nz, The State of Rugby in New Zealand, an investigation of the issues facing the sport a year out from the World Cup.

"In a piece about the All Black coaching panel, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew tells of how it can be difficult to explain to the All Black coach that he is sometimes perceived as taciturn.

"Graham Henry gets nothing but positive interaction with New Zealanders," Tew said. "So when we're talking to him about perhaps his image and how we would like him to not be so principally and grumpy, at times he doesn't get it because when he talks to people they are very positive."

Chris Rattue believes that the new tackle laws will play into the hands of the Hurricanes' Piri Weepu in The New Zealand Herald.

"We are only a week into the Super 14 competition, so this topic may seem premature, but Piri Weepu's maestro touches for the Hurricanes against the Blues really caught the eye, and thus pulled the All Black halfback situation into view.

"Might this be a case of cometh the new rules, cometh the man? Just where Weepu - with 30-plus tests under the belt - fits into Graham Henry's plans is one of the more mysterious aspects about the current regime's selections.

"The selectors have three distinctive options - Weepu, Jimmy Cowan and Brendon Leonard, plus Andy Ellis, who should be the last cab off the top rank.At this point the grumpy Cowan, from Southland, would probably be rated number one. Cowan is combative, a strong cover defender who pulled off a couple of pivotal tackles in the black jersey last year, but he is a little laboured and not overly creative."

Jermoe Kaino surges forward for the Blues © Getty Images

Auckland is a sporting centre in decline, according to Chris Rattue in The New Zealand Herald.

"The first week of the new rugby season already looks like all of those often depressingly hopeless years gone by for the Blues. Their faltering effort against the Hurricanes at Albany on Friday night reinforced the strong suspicion they will be also-rans again this year.

"Auckland is a city of sporting decay. The smell of failure hangs around Auckland sport, in contrast to elsewhere. The Blues' second-half capitulation against the Hurricanes, who were beautifully marshalled by Piri Weepu, was yet another soul-destroying moment in their increasingly beleaguered history.

"Forget the PR BS because flaky met shaky when the Blues secured Cantabrian Stephen Brett.Why the biggest city in a supposedly rugby-mad nation needs to go cap in hand to find players in pivotal positions tells a story in itself, that of an inability to identify and/or lure young players and fit them into long-term schemes."

Richard Loe has one focus ahead of the new Super 14 season and it's unsurprisingly the breakdown in The New Zealand Herald.

"The main point of interest for many in this year's Super 14 will be the new Sanzar rules at the breakdown.

"I think these could be good but there are two potential problems - interpretations and the fact they are not binding on other international sides; so the All Blacks have to revert to the old rules when they play Northern Hemisphere sides.

"That's because the IRB have decided there will be no more rules changes before the World Cup. Well, okay, but Sanzar have at least realised the game of rugby has a problem and are moving to fix it. I have always said that, for every rule change the IRB approve, they should tear out two old ones that aren't used any more. Rugby has got so complicated that many players, fans and even referees don't understand it."

Can the Blues perform in 2010? © Getty Images

Wynne Gray believes that the pressure is on the Blues ahead of the Super 14 in The New Zealand Herald.

"When the media, as part of this year's Super rugby launch, were involved in a quiz on the competition's history, the results were at best mixed. Not surprising, really. Not when 1066 matches have been played in the professional competition since the Hurricanes hosted the Blues in Palmerston North way back in 1996.

"From memory, it was a boisterous evening, a full house on a balmy Friday night in early March as referee Paddy O'Brien whistled the authorised start for professional rugby in the Southern Hemisphere. O'Brien has since gone north as has the Blues five-eighths Carlos Spencer, though he is making a remarkable comeback with the Lions this season.

"There are other connections. Midfielder Alama Ieremia, who scored the first try in Super history, will be back as part of the Hurricanes' coaching staff when the same sides meet in Albany next Friday to start this year's competition."

Chris Rattue predicts a possible change of style for injured All Blacks lock Ali Williams in The New Zealand Herald.

"Ali Williams won't be back - not the Ali Williams we have come to know, anyway. The All Blacks' World Cup hopes have also been dealt a setback.

"As Williams recuperates from his latest long-term injury, the former supercharged lock might consider the need to reinvent his game.When sports stars talk about the shortness of careers, of the wonderful things they have being snatched away by injury or selection, the need to maximise potential when the going is good, then the long tall lock from Auckland is a prime example.

"Once all chipper about a rugby sabbatical, Williams is now devastated because he has an enforced break - along with a very uncertain future, it has to be said."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Dylan Clever outlines the reasons why Richie McCaw should be a clear winner for New Zealand's sportsperson of the decade.

"He has twice this decade been officially recognised as the best rugby player in the world, and even that seems stingy on reflection.

"For most of the past decade he has been recognised as the undisputed best openside flanker in the game. So effective is he that breakdown laws have been changed to reduce his influence. He is not just consistent, he is consistently brilliant.

"He is the captain of New Zealand's most successful sports team and the only iconic sports "brand" this country possesses, and the difficulties of 2009 seemed to bring out a hitherto unseen Whineray-like streak. He is, in short, a national treasure. He's a hero to untold thousands of kids and, as facile as the term might be, not a bad role model either."

Peter Bills, writing in The Irish Independent, meets Kiwi Tim Manawatu, now playing in Italy for L'Aquila, the club devastated by an earthquake in 2009.

"His name won't strike a ready chord with you, but then, that won't surprise him. Tim Manawatu knows he doesn't exactly have a name as familiar as Dan Carter or Richie McCaw.

"No matter, this young man's life has been transformed since he got to Italy on his rugby odyssey; there really is no other way to describe it. Like all young New Zealand kids, he yearned to pull on the black jersey, to call himself an All Black. But that is a reward afforded to just the privileged few.

"However for Manawatu, there has come the stunning realisation that you don't have to play at the level of the All Blacks to earn an extremely pleasant living out of professional rugby in Italy, the rugby nation which plays Ireland in the Six Nations opener at Croke Park on Saturday week.

"Originally from Kaikoura, part of the Canterbury region on the south island, Manawatu took a leap into the unknown several years ago and has counted his blessings every day since."

Chris Rattue evaluates the rumours of Kiwi league star Manu Vatuvei joining the Melbourne Rebels in The New Zealand Herald.

"The new rugby and league seasons have yet to see a ball kicked in genuine anger, although temperatures will already be rising Penrose way. The Warriors' league wing Manu Vatuvei - a runaway truck in the straight forward gears and still learner driver in reverse - is said to be a target of the new Melbourne rugby franchise.

"With the faithful wondering about the state of this country's NRL outfit, what with the strange demotion of Steve Price from the captaincy, the rumour around the sometimes fabulous wing strikes another jarring note.

"The Vatuvei headline has already been written, the potential distraction in a new season - after a horrid 2009 for the Warriors - already in place. Such stories are convenient when talking up the price of your man, although Vatuvei still has two more years on his Warriors' contract so these are early days for haggling."

Carlos Spencer helped the Blues to the top of Super Rugby © Getty Images

Carlos Spencer is set to return to Super 14 action, but don't expect a grudge match when the Lions take on the Blues. He talks to Dylan Cleaver in The New Zealand Herald.

"Circle May 8 in your diary and set the alarm for 5am - that's when the team that offered Carlos Spencer a Super 14 lifeline meets the team that denied him.

"It is almost too unreal to comprehend. The 34-year-old Spencer, the spark that ignited three Super rugby titles, playing for the competition's biggest underachiever against Stephen Brett, the man the Blues chose to bank on ahead of Spencer.

It could be a beautiful reunion but what it won't be, according to Spencer, is a grudge match. Although he would have liked to come back and finish his Super rugby career with the only franchise he had played for, he does not spend his spare time sticking pins into voodoo dolls in the likeness of the Blues and New Zealand Rugby Union officials who rebuffed his advances."

Can Carlos Spencer still cut it at the top? Marc Hinton takes a look at the former All Black playmaker for Rugby Heaven.

"The big question is, does he still have the physical tools to make those innate skills of his a factor for his latest team, Johannesburg's Lions, as he completes a much-anticipated return to Super rugby?

"That will be one of the major talking points of the start of the new Super 14 season as Spencer attempts to lead the Lions to a brave new world, somewhere away from their perennial status of competition also-rans.

"The signing of Spencer came as a shock to many as the Lions launched their new era under highly-rated coach Dick Muir. They've also picked up Springbok flanker Wikus van Heerden and there's an air of optimism around Jo'burg that the gloomy days as competition doormats could be behind them."

Aaron Mauger looks set to follow the path of Luke McAlister and Chris Jack back to New Zealand rugby in time for the World Cup next year. The centre talks to Peter Bills for the Weekend Herald.

"Slowly, yet surely Graham Henry's potential World Cup squad is gathering both momentum and quality.

"Mauger made little attempt to hide the way he is leaning. The positive nature of his remarks about what he calls "new challenges" back home, both for himself and his family, reveal his thinking. "I would be excited about the possibility of returning home," he admitted.

"I haven't signed anything yet, back home or here. But going home is definitely an option."

"If that sounds ambiguous, New Zealand rugby fans need not be too worried. It's just that Mauger is fully aware of the considerable efforts Leicester have made over the last 30 months to help him settle and enjoy his stay.He wants to be fair to them, too."

Michael Brown assesses the prospects of new Blues scrum-half Alby Mathewson ahead of the Super 14 in The New Zealand Herald.

"There's a little bit of Tim Shadbolt in Alby Mathewson. He does not have the crooked grin or wispish hair and is presumably a better dancer but he shares some of Shadbolt's philosophy.

"The Invercargill and former Waitemata mayor once said, "I don't care where, as long as I'm mayor." Mathewson needed a Super franchise where he was virtually guaranteed game time, no matter where it was. He saw plenty of action at the Hurricanes last season but Aaron Cruden's rise to prominence and Piri Weepu's expected move back to halfback from first five-eighths meant Mathewson faced life on the bench.

"The only realistic option was the Blues, given the other four franchises are serviced by All Black halfbacks, so Mathewson asked his agent to sound them out.Mathewson is a one-game All Black, having played against Munster on the 2008 Northern Hemisphere tour and he hopes his move to the Blues will help him get back in black."

Over the next couple of weeks the extra helping of sherry-laced trifle and the brandy snaps will be instantly regretted as the Super 14 players drift back to their franchises for gruelling pre-season training. Dylan Clever writes in New Zealand Herald.

"With the possible exception of sanguine Chiefs' coach Ian Foster, none of the coaches would have been able to fully relax over the festive season either.

"Having slotted a few draft choices into their squads they now have to find a way of restoring pride in New Zealand franchises that was lost last season - all done against the Sanzar blueprint of "positive rugby" they have signed up to (if you are thinking of running a sweepstake as to how long it will take a couple of the South African sides to renege on that promise we would suggest round three would be prudent).

"Last season was not a great one for New Zealand teams, leaving five pertinent questions to be answered over the off-season."

	Stade Francais scrum-half Julien Dupuy is the latest player to have been banned for eye-gouging © Getty Images

"The act of choice is eye-gouging which has been frighteningly common in 2009. seems to be happening almost every week - the latest being a nasty double attack by Julien Dupuy and David Atoub of Stade Francais on Ulster's Stephen Ferris. The video evidence was damning.

"As it was when Schalk Burger gouged Luke Fitzgerald in the opening minute of the second test between the British Lions and Springboks in June. As it was when Italian No 8 Sergio Parisse gouged Isaac Ross a few hours before Burger's indiscretion.

"If Alan Quinlan had been on tour with the Lions, then the tourists might have taken their revenge on Burger. But the Irish flanker didn't make the trip after being selected because he gouged Leinster's Leo Cullen in the Heineken Cup. Rotorua-born Dylan Hartley missed much of the season after being found guilty of eye-gouging while playing for Northampton and one naughty Frenchman can count himself lucky that there was no supporting video footage to support All Black claims Tony Woodcock was "facialled" in Marseilles."

Gregor Paul springs a few surprises in selecting his best of the year in The New Zealand Herald.

"Cory Jane was a class act every time he played and came of age this season. He can be proud of what he contributed. Not even Jane, though, could match the contribution of Tom Donnelly who went from provincial stalwart to first choice All Black in the last few months of the year.

"More importantly Donnelly took the greatest source of national embarrassment and transformed it into one of the most efficient and accurate lineouts in world rugby. The importance of that cannot be overstated.

"The All Black lineout was an absolute shambles for most of the year. The test in Hamilton against the Boks will never be forgotten – the All Blacks went through 40 minutes of rugby without winning one of their own throws."

	Will Hayman be heading home ahead of RWC'11? © Getty Images

"The bearded behemoth, who is captaining the English club Newcastle these days, is regarded as the missing link in the master plan that will see the Webb Ellis Cup paraded up Queen St and a town near you in 2011. Yes, some of these master plans have come unstuck at previous World Cups, but this one is a sure bet. Honest.

"Loath as this column is to give advice to the NZRU, here's a way of ensuring Hayman plays in the cup: if worse comes to worst, follow your own lead and ignore your own rule. There are all sorts of rumours about Hayman's return, including that the good people of Taranaki are prepared to give him a farm as an inducement. And there's no greater honour in this country than being given a farm."

The public knows that on recent form, neither Harbour nor Counties-Manukau deserve to be part of the Air NZ Cup top division, according to Peter Williams in the Herald on Sunday.

"After Friday's decision to retain the status quo in the Air New Zealand Cup, for at least another year anyway, it's fair to ask once more - just who is running rugby in this country?

"How come the NZRU, the richest sporting body in New Zealand, with annual revenues in excess of $100 million, can still be dictated to by provincial unions with a precarious financial position and little more than parochial self-interest at heart? Perhaps it's because there's a growing realisation at head office that rugby's real fan base is shifting from the big cities and into the provincial centres like Napier, Palmerston North and Invercargill."

After forcing the New Zealand Rugby Union into a re-think, now is the time for the unions have to put their minds to matters based more on fact than conjecture, so writes Dylan Cleaver in the New Zealand Herald.

"This is the story of the mice that roared - now they have to start to think.

"Northland, Counties Manukau, Tasman and Manawatu, the four unions with their necks under the NZRU's guillotine, have staved off execution with a formidable campaign that involved lobbying and explicit legal threats. Unless they want to find themselves in the same position a little further down the track, they now have to do more than rail against the national body."

Dylan Cleaver calls on the four Air New Zealand Cup sides saved from the chop to justify the decision in The New Zealand Herald.

"This is the story of the mice that roared - now they have to start to think. Northland, Counties Manukau, Tasman and Manawatu, the four unions with their necks under the NZRU's guillotine, have staved off execution with a formidable campaign that involved lobbying and explicit legal threats.

"Unless they want to find themselves in the same position a little further down the track, they now have to do more than rail against the national body.

"They were out of touch, very out of touch," said outgoing Counties Manukau chairman Matthew Newman of the NZRU. It is a strange charge to label against an organisation that, no matter how good a punching bag they make, has just shown that they are prepared to put pragmatism ahead of pride. These sort of comments help no one. The time for cheap shots is over."

Peter Bills bows down to the talents of All Black fly-half Dan Carter in The Irish Independent.

”Unless you subscribe to the bizarre theory that it's best to wait until someone has retired or died before offering praise for their talents, let us salute one particular, unique performer from the world of rugby union as 2009 comes to an end.

“This year began with a dire injury to the game's outstanding out-half. A torn Achilles tendon can
be a career-ending blow, such is the gravity of the injury.

“Happily, Dan Carter will end 2009 in a blaze of glory. Not only did he recover from the injury that brought to an end his sojourn with Perpignan, but he rediscovered his glorious skills in the toughest ground of all - the Test match.

“Carter is a genius of this rugby age. He is a skilled, delightfully inventive player who brings a sublime craft to the game. Whether it's by running, passing, kicking, tackling, covering or reading the game, he stands apart.”

Marc Hinton believes that the All Blacks are still behind the Springboks in world rugby's pecking order in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"There was something vaguely fitting about the anti-climactic end to the All Blacks' year at Twickenham over the weekend. After the giddy events of Marseille just seven days earlier, perhaps it was appropriate that the year should end on a slightly bum note, with the 18-25 defeat to the Bryan Habana-inspired Barbarians.

"After all this has been a far from perfect year for Graham Henry's side, with those three straight test defeats to South Africa, another to the French in the early part of the season, and a number of other rather unconvincing performances along the way.

"So even though the All Blacks ended the test year as the world's No 1-ranked side, surely not even they would kid themselves that they sit above South Africa on anyone's pecking order, but the IRB's."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Richard Loe believes New Zealand deserve a 7 out of 10 score for their tour exploits.

"So the All Blacks now have to aim for consistency in achieving the sort of result they did against France. That's a bit harder - but they have taken some big strides since the beginning of the season. They have focused on the basics and problems like the lineout have been fixed - just as we all said they could be.

"That brings me to Tom Donnelly - one of the best players of the tour, I'd suggest. He showed up well for most of this tour and particularly against France. Lock is one of the few areas where the All Blacks have no worries and plenty to choose from now. Donnelly did so well that I am bound to say: Isaac who? And that's a biggie - I was one of those people who insisted that Isaac Ross should have gone on this tour."

Wynne Gray reviews the All Blacks tour as the saviour of their season in The New Zealand Herald.

"This was a strange old All Black season, not least for the fact that they lost more tests than they have in any other year under Graham Henry's command.

"In keeping with the theme which dominated the 2007 World Cup campaign and its aftermath, there was a bit of rotation. This time the coaches rotated themselves, with Henry, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen swapping duties before charging through another end-of-year tour of Europe.

"A dozen players who made the first squad in June were missing from that voyage with injuries, form and gameplan changes as the side slogged through their itinerary before destroying France in Marseille."

Stephen Jones bleieves that the All Blacks are "individually weak but collectively outstanding", in The Times.

"The enormous victory by New Zealand over France in Marseille last weekend was interesting from many angles. I have always considered Marc Lievremont, the French coach, as a bungler rather than true international class and France's capitulation suggests strongly that some of his own players are undecided about him as well.

"But this win, for me, summed up the essential excellence of New Zealand rugby. Heaven knows, while they may be ranked the top team in the world they have been bested by South Africa all season and even the most fervent supporters know that the Springboks are out in front at present.

"Yet considering their exhaustion at the end of a long season, New Zealand can be justly proud of their results on this tour. It was they who upheld the superiority of the Southern Hemisphere sides."

Peter Bills is thankful that his long wait for a side to show some attacking flair ended at the weekend, in The Independent.

"World rugby has waited all year - no, make that two years - for a blinding light of inspiration, a clarion call if you like from someone on how to play this game properly.

"The world champion South Africans have been a disappointment, scared of their own mighty shadow when it has come to embracing a proper running game with attacking intent. They have the players but their coaches have been too frightened to use them properly. Likewise the French who have forgotten how to utilise such talents.

"No-one else has seriously put their hands up to make the point as the game has plunged into an abyss of mess, muddle and mediocrity.

"Give thanks, therefore, for what New Zealand did in Marseille on Saturday night. Winning a game of rugby, just another Test match, was the least of their achievements when judged on a worldwide canvas. No, what the All Blacks did was re-affirm our faith in the game as something a whole lot more than just a series of bludgeoning forward charges, a contest about as subtle as the collision between two raging bulls."

Marc Hinton is thankful that the All Blacks cut loose in Marseille in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Test rugby has the smile back on its face, and it has the All Blacks to thank for that.

"As Graham Henry's New Zealand side ran in five tries to finally unleash its attacking arsenal at the Stade Velodrome yesterday, the stunning 39-12 victory over France not only rounded off the autumn test programme in style, but made an emphatic statement about the quality of the fare being served up in the international arena.

"Yes, the laws of the game may be deeply flawed, and the match officials given way too much leeway to stamp their mark on proceedings. And, yes, it's deeply ironic that northern hemisphere unions now appear to be backtracking on the much-maligned ELVs, many of which they gave short shift to without even bothering to trial them."

Wynne Gray, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that the All Blacks coaches' job swap might still have some mileage.

"Done and dusted for another season. The All Blacks turned over all five of their foes in the last sector of their test programme while also attempting to reinvent themselves.

"After 5 years in the same portfolios, the coaches rolled the dice and altered their duties. Graham Henry moved from defence into sorting out the forwards, Wayne Smith went from the backline to defensive boss and Steve Hansen shuffled from the forwards to the backs.

"Having completed the successful end-of-year-stint, Hansen is making noises about returning to deal with the pack again. This trip though might prompt other ideas.

"If the job swap has been beneficial for the coaches and the players, if it has sparked new thoughts, ideas and enthusiasm and added extra dimensions to their calibre, then let's persevere or add to it."

	Brian O'Driscoll was passed over for the IRB's top gong © Getty Images

"In amateur times, rugby union was always promoted as the ultimate team game. Certainly, given its nature, it had the facility to cater for all body types. A place could always be found for little Jimmy Blobby alongside long Johnny Beanpole in the same starting XV. Few competing codes could offer the same equality of opportunity.

"The team ethic was the core principle, guarded almost jealously by the game's administrators. Then, in 1979, the first Man of the Match awards came into being for the Five Nations, as it was then known.

"Following the opening Ireland game of that season (against the French in Dublin), I was named the recipient of the inaugural award. At training at Lansdowne Road the following weekend I was presented with a carriage clock by Paul McWeeney on behalf of the rugby writers. It was engraved with the sponsors' name, Thwaites and Matthews (to this day I couldn't tell you what they sold), and on the following Monday morning the picture of Paul (sadly long since passed away) presenting me with the award appeared in all the different papers.

"No big deal and all with the approval of the IRFU -- or so I thought! To cut a long story short, within 48 hours I had received a typically frosty and impersonal letter signed by Bob Fitzgerald on behalf of the IRFU."

	New Zealand captain Richie McCaw lifts the Dave Gallaher Trophy in Marseille © Getty Images

"This was their best performance of the year, the antithesis of their opening test of the season five months ago against the same opponent. If this is the new standard the All Blacks have set for themselves, then the rest of the world should take some quiet thinking time. The All Blacks in this kind of mood; this kind of form are lethal.

"They ticked all the foundation boxes, except for the scrummaging which was a bit hit and miss, and that was the platform they needed. But this was a performance about the extras, about the way the All Blacks created space and found their attacking vision again."

Gregor Paul is predicting some fireworks from an emotional French side as they take on New Zealand this weekend. Read his thoughts in The New Zealand Herald.

"If anyone is looking for a good bet to make on the All Black test this weekend, stick some money on one of the French players being sent off.

"It's been a while since a red card was shown in a major test, but there is something in the air that makes it feel entirely possible, almost probable, that one of the French players is going to lose it. Really do something memorably violent – a stomp on the head, a punch, maybe even a head-butt (they have got form there in both football codes).

"And for another different sort of bet – how about the All Blacks to win with a drop goal? Even better, how about Luke McAlister coming off the bench to land said dropped goal?

"The irony would be rich but again, there is this unmistakable edge at the moment that suggests things are going to boom at the Stade Velodrome; that this is going to be the most memorable test of the season and maybe not for the right reasons, either."

England were level pegging with New Zealand until the start of the last quarter which is more a comment on the All Blacks' failings than England's deeds according to Peter Bills in the New Zealand Herald.

"Only when the forwards at last hammered England into submission with a series of power surges into the home team's 22, and the ball was then moved down the blindside for Jimmy Cowan's try, could New Zealand finally break a resolute, but hardly sophisticated England defence.

"The trouble was, for too long New Zealand let themselves be dragged down closer to England's moderate level than rising above the mediocrity through their own supremacy. Too many players made far too many uncharacteristic mistakes."

The obsession with the collision was taken to extremes at Twickenham according to Gregor Paul, read his thoughts in the Herald on Sunday.

"The enormity of the challenge facing the All Blacks became apparent as the teams lined up for the national anthems. That's when it was possible to see just how big this English team is. They don't do small. There were giants everywhere. Simon Shaw just about cast a shadow over the whole ground.

"The two props were definitely old school as they went for miles across the shoulders and didn't thin at the waist. There were even freakishly large men in the backs. Surely there must have been some mistake for Matt Banahan to have taken a place on the wing - he was taller and heavier than Brad Thorn. And there was Ayoola Erinle in the midfield - well it would be more accurate to say he was the midfield."

A better effort from England in defeat was not enough to save some battered reputations, writes Hugh Godwin in the Independent on Sunday.

"If the autumn series was a World Cup, England would have been knocked out twice, with this fitfully encouraging but ultimately comprehensive defeat added to that by Australia a fortnight ago. Instead it has been something of a phoney war, with a succession of meaningless baubles such as yesterday's Hillary Shield at stake. The genuine prize is the ability to weed out the weak and improve for the battles to come, even if for Martin Johnson it may feel like picking the diamonds out of the dung."

Stuart Barnes, writing in The Times, is clear on his opinion of the man England have to stop at Twickenham on Saturday, no surprises that it's All Black fly-half Dan Carter.

"There is a chink of light for Martin Johnson as the agony of the autumn series draw to its finale with the visit of New Zealand. Such has been the paucity of wit, invention and quality that nobody really thinks England have a chance of beating the All Blacks and therein is the opportunity.

"An inexperienced manager seems paralysed by the fear of losing and the team play as if paralysed by fear of the big brooding boss man. The operation has frozen to a halt and all the hard work in the world will mean nothing until that fear is overcome.

"On cue, enter the All Blacks; they are clearly not a vintage New Zealand team. Graham Henry has learned the lesson England refuse to heed; that there are some matches more important than others. All the dominance in the world counted for nothing when France beat them in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. With the next tournament in New Zealand it is safe to say that Henry is building slowly for this event."

The All Blacks must be convincing against England on Sunday for the benefit of the sport, writes Gregor Paul in the New Zealand Herald .

"The important thing for the All Blacks to remember when they play England this week is to leave no room for ambiguity. The Poms have to get their beans. They have to be humiliated - they have to be given the equivalent of a pants down smack on the backside from matron in front of the other boys.

"This isn't just because it feels good to ridicule them on their home ground - to see the self-styled governors of the game take some from the colonial upstarts. It's also because England, for the good of the world game, have to dispense with the guff they have served so far under Martin Johnson and find a new path."

The All Blacks need to be asking serious questions about their own technical expertise according to Gregor Paul in the New Zealand Herald.

"The problem has been there all season. It's just been hard to see, partly because neither Australia nor South Africa were good enough up front to fully expose the All Blacks' scrummaging weaknesses and partly because the dysfunctional lineout grabbed all the attention.

"The All Blacks have regressed significantly in an area where they could recently have claimed to be the best in the world. The departure of Carl Hayman in 2007 was the beginning of the slide. No side can lose a man of his calibre and not feel it."

The All Blacks' scrum was taught a lesson by Martin Castrogiovani and friends in the San Siro, according to Gregor Paul in The New Zealand Herald.

"Wyatt Crockett had a big fork stuck in him by Martin Castrogiovani. The big Italian prop, looking more like a base player from a grunge band, educated young Crockett in the ways of the dark arts.

"It was man versus boy. It was car meeting truck. It was really quite hard to watch at times. In the last five minutes the Italians were toying with the All Blacks. Down they'd slam and the All Blacks would crumple. On it would go until Neemia Tialata was sent to the bin. The Italians could only wonder why they weren't awarded a penalty try. They deserved one. They deserved something more for the control they were exerting.

"From the scrum, the Italians drew inspiration. It gave them the confidence to attack the All Black forwards at the collision. It gave them the confidence to work the rolling maul and they were effective. It's a different game in these parts and the All Blacks will face more of the same against England and France."

Chris Rattue hails Dan Carter as the greatest fly-half of them all, despite his recent misdemeanour, in The New Zealand Herald.

"As the jeers swirled around Cardiff's magnificent rugby temple a shiver went up the spine, in a living room a world away, and not only because the Welsh passion for this often distressingly turgid sport was giving life to our troubled national obsession.

"Hand on a cold rugby heart, we are watching the finest first five-eighths who has ever played this game. Daniel Carter may be in rugby's rickety dock for his grand slam on a Welshman, but he has moved even further into rugby lore, and rightly so.

"What Carter delivered at the Millennium Stadium was what legions of rugby fans from any country would expect from their heroes, an explosive (if ultimately misjudged) effort to cut down an opposing attack at the pivotal moment in a match.

"Carter's crushing hit lowered the replacement Welsh halfback Martin Roberts like a sack of coals, immediately mining years of Welsh discontent as a replay screencast repeated an instant judgment on a tackle that would have been lauded in darker ages."

If this tour wasn't already hard enough, now the All Blacks will have to watch out for officials determined to show they are not intimidated by the touring side, so writes gregor Paul in the New Zealand Herald.

"Wily old fox that he is, Gatland knows the damage to his side can't be fixed. The moment has gone. But what he has done is ensure that Stuart Dickinson (Italy test), Jonathan Kaplan (England test) and Alain Rolland (France test) will all be asking themselves if they have the courage to make tough calls against the All Blacks at critical times. Gatland's comments will be locked in their heads now, and all three referees will be conscious they can't back down; they can't be seen to be in awe of the All Blacks."

The All Blacks preserved their 56-year record against Wales on the back of the most ferocious defensive effort, writes Gregor Paul in the Herald on Sunday.

"For Wales, it must have felt like a cyclist ploughing through a swarm of flies with an open mouth. There was this black cloud smothering them; choking them; denying them.

"It was relentless. A performance that says not only is the structure and technique all in pace - so too the attitude and desire to win. Wales had ample possession. They had the territory, too. But in the end, they didn't have the class, the vision or the trickery to find any holes."

Wales have plenty of positives to reflect on in the wake of their latest defeat to the All Blacks, writes Michael Aylwin in The Observer.

"Well, it was brave. But then it usually is. Same result, though. Fifty-six years of Welsh hurt at the hands of New Zealand will now become 57. There was, however, wildness and excitement in the endgame. Having looked as if they might be broken men as they stared at a 19-6 deficit with a quarter of an hour to go and the All Blacks swarming on their line, Wales roused themselves somehow for one last push.

"And then, after two Stephen Jones penalties had brought them to within a converted try, Alun Wyn Jones, who had been as heroic as anyone in Welsh colours, intercepted on his own 22 and was away. Seventy-four thousand roared him on, and he tried, oh he tried, galloping over the turf like a back-row forward. He reached the New Zealand 22 before Zac Guildford finally cut him down, but Wales could not quite finish the deal."

Ahead of the November Tests, four of The Guardian's rugby scribes pick their current world XVs.

"The hits may be getting bigger but class is permanent. It will be interesting, even so, to see how many of this team are still pre-eminent when the 2011 World Cup kicks off in New Zealand.

"The autumn Tests will certainly tell us more about Jamie Roberts, so influential for the Lions, and the new French captain Thierry Dusautoir. Watch out, too, for the fast-rising Irish back-rowers Stephen Ferris and Jamie Heaslip, Australia's Rocky Elsom and France's Maxime Médard."

Stuart Barnes previews Saturday's showdown between Wales and New Zealand, and doesn't hold out much hope for the men in red in The Times.

"Tears always flow when these great nations meet. For Wales the tears have been shed only in woe since 1953. The possibility of seeing Cardiff draped in joyous red makes this the main match of the autumn series first round.

"Yet, much as I hate to be the harbinger of bad news, the chances are not great; possible yes, but probable? New Zealand are not anywhere near their best, but Wales have a few injuries that promise to gravely weaken them.

"Much has been made of the absence of Mike Phillips; I am not sure a Welsh team at full tilt would miss him quite as much as assumed. He is undoubtedly the strongest scrum half in this hemisphere but compared to the genuine greats of modern times, such as Fourie du Preez, he can be dreadfully slow with his service."

Eddie Butler believes that Wales will just fall short in their attempt to break their long winless streak against the All Blacks in The Guardian.

"I'm not sure how much more build-up to Saturday's Tests can be taken. The Kiwi press is having a go at Wales for talking a big fight before the bell sounds and the tone of blogland is even more irascible than usual. The digital revolution has opened up boundless opportunities for a slanging match.

"Take, for example, poor little Leigh Halfpenny, who has been fingered by the New Zealanders as part of the Welsh propaganda machine that has declared the end of All Black invincibility. The insult has been paraded before the NZ public: Shock and aura, the All Blacks can be beaten, says baby-faced Welsh farthing.

"Well, there's the little player, willingly answering questions as he always does – because that's the way he is and on his media training course they told him to be as sincere as possible – and very softly suggesting that if Wales are to have a chance they have to overcome their own doubts about playing against their tormentors. A history going back 56 years can weigh heavy on young shoulders, but, he genuinely believes, the group is growing stronger and they have to believe in themselves."

Paul Rees is hoping that the November Test matches provide something to shout about after mixed bags in the Six Nations and Tri-Nations in The Guardian.

"John Clare wrote about dark and dull November days, but how the game in Europe could do with an Indian summer as the autumn internationals beckon. South Africa, New Zealand and Australia arrive in Europe after a Tri-Nations campaign that was hardly more stimulating than the Six Nations championship which preceded it.

"The New Zealand coach, Graham Henry, was in typically waspish mood this week when he described most sides in Europe, meaning the Six Nations, as conservative in their approach. Dull, in other words. He cited Wales as the exception, but South Africa have hardly been a byword for adventure this year and their meeting with Ireland at the end of the month, who won the Six Nations by adopting similarly constrictive tactics, could come down to who blinks first.

"Henry laments the surfeit of kicking spawned last year by the experimental law variations, but Wales presaged the changes on their way to the 2008 grand slam when they kicked more often than anyone else in the Six Nations, keeping the ball in play and chasing hard. They were opportunistic and waited for the moment."

John Hopkins believes that Wales' chances of beating the All Blacks are contingent on their belief that they can end a 20-game losing run in The Times.

"I don't care about the Wales team to face New Zealand on Saturday. It's immaterial to me whether Paul James is a gamble at tight head, that Ian Gough might have been better than Luke Charteris in the second row or that Wales should have gone for an established full back rather than selecting Jack of All Trades, Jack, sorry James, Hook. These changes are neither here nor there.

"I care about Wales's self belief. Wales's opponents in Cardiff are not men who wear a black shirt with a silver fern on it. Wales's opponents are those who take the field representing the home side. Wales have no one to fear but themselves.

"In general, Wales's players and the country's supporters do not fear another nation. Not the English, the French and the Irish, certainly not the Scots. Wales beat Australia the last time the two teams played and fancy their chances of doing so again at the end of this month. In short Wales give themselves a decent shout against any rugby playing country in the world, even the Springboks."

Peter Williams believes that the All Blacks will have a serious battle for attention on their hands in the coming weeks in The New Zealand Herald.

"The all Blacks face a huge battle for the hearts and minds of New Zealand sports fans in the next two weeks, not to mention eyeballs.

"While the All Blacks yet again traipse around Europe, where the major objective seems to be making money for the New Zealand Rugby Union, the rugby league Kiwis and the All Whites are playing matches far more meaningful, and mostly at times much more convenient for us here.

"Next Sunday, the All Blacks and the Kiwis essentially go head-to-head. The test against Wales starts at 6.15am. The Kiwis play England at Huddersfield from 7am. The result of that ratings clash will be one of the more fascinating outcomes of the sporting year.

"You get the feeling the All Blacks will have to play really well in the first half to keep their audience for the second."

Peter Bills questions the extravagant prices charged for tickets to the dead-rubber Bledisloe Cup Test between New Zealand and Australia in Tokyo on Saturday in The New Zealand Herald.

"Tomorrow's match in Tokyo offers rugby fans a disturbing view of the game's future. If you wondered why earlier this year the IRB broke with tradition and announced the venue of not just the next Rugby World Cup but the next two, then all can be revealed.

"For sure, it's a wheeze Blackadder's servant Baldrick would have been proud of. If the Bledisloe Cup's dead fourth rubber is any guideline, the 2019 Rugby World Cup which is to be staged in Japan will produce eye-watering ticket prices.

"It seems the IRB's thinking is that if the tournament isn't going to take place there for another 10 years, the world has time to get used to the idea of super inflation mugging ticket prices for the sport's premier event.

"For those who reckoned that $242 for the best tickets to watch Wales play Japan in a pool match at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and $850 for the most expensive ticket to the Paris final two years ago were decent asks, then I suggest you find a comfortable surface and lie down before you read about the ticket prices being charged in Tokyo this weekend for a Bledisloe Cup match which is irrelevant, the All Blacks having long since retained the trophy this year."

The New Zealand Herald's Gregor Paul is confused by the All Blacks' latest coaching reshuffle.

"Earlier this year Graham Henry talked about loyalty, sharing his belief that sometimes it can be misplaced.

"Events of the past week make it impossible not to wonder whether he is making the mistake he warned others against. Steve Hansen has been shuffled into no-man's land - a position of vague responsibility where he will be able to dodge bullets as he's shielded by Henry and Wayne Smith.

"If the backs fail to deliver much thrust and flair, will it be the fault of the backs coach or the attack coach? Ditto, if the forwards don't do their bit in setting an attacking platform, should inquiries be directed to Henry or Hansen?"

David Leggat is intrigued by the reshuffle in the All Blacks' coaching ranks in The New Zealand Herald.

"It was slipped in after the naming of the All Blacks touring squad, sounding almost, but not quite, an "oh, by the way ..." moment.

"The three national selectors are swapping roles for the trip through Japan, Wales, Italy, England and France. Whether it continues next year probably depends on what happens in the Northern Hemisphere in the next few weeks.

"Head coach Graham Henry is to take charge of the forwards, longtime backs boss Wayne Smith will oversee the defence, and forwards mentor Steve Hansen is instead to focus on the attack.

"It was right that it came near the end of Sunday's announcement - the players should always come first - but it brings with it a hefty dose of intrigue."

Richard Loe, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that the All Blacks should experiment on their end of year tour.

"For my money, the All Black selectors should leave several senior players at home for the end of year tour and trial some new blood.

"The touring squad is announced this morning and, if I was a betting man, I would bet against the selectors doing what I am advocating. But my job is to tell you what I think they should do.

"Leave Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Piri Weepu, Jason Eaton, Stephen Donald and Neemia Tialata. And maybe Luke McAlister, if he's not fit. I know they won't do that - or not all of it anyway - but I think this is the last year they will be able to experiment and build. So why wouldn't they?

"Let's face it - if Mils Muliaina really needs a rest, give him a rest now and not in the first rounds of the Super 14. Sivivatu has a groin injury and may not be right in time. Leave him here to recuperate properly - there's no point in taking away people carrying injuries, as I have said endlessly. That's the thing with McAlister, too. If he's not right, take Tim Bateman instead."

Chris Rattue muses on the validity of television match officials in the wake of Hawkes Bay prop Sona Taumalolo's disallowed try against Canterbury in The New Zealand Herald.

"What a stunning "try" to the Hawkes Bay prop Sona Taumalolo against Canterbury, and what a disastrous shame it wasn't awarded. And what a spectacular Air New Zealand Cup match between the leaders in Napier. It was a stirring rugby night, even if the home side relied a bit too much on putting up bombs in front of their home crowd.

"Had Taumalolo been awarded the 80th minute try, Hawkes Bay's ace goalkicker Matt Berquist might have slammed over a sideline conversion for a draw and an extra competition point. That point could be vital in the semifinal washup - let's hope it isn't, although this may be hard to quantify.

"We can all be couch replay experts these days and repeated frame-by-frame analysis of the incident leaves no doubt at all that Taumalolo clearly scored. Absolutely no doubt at all.

"It was a sensational effort from Taumalolo, who charged on the angle from a tap penalty, then dived and stretched out an arm to score in the corner with the tracking tacklers and a hesitant wing surprised by his acceleration, and well beaten."

Writing for Rugby Heaven, Duncan Johnstone praises the International Rugby Board for their use of All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu to help get the Olympics job done and urges the New Zealand Rugby Union to follow their lead.

"It should be an embarrassment to New Zealand rugby that we have done so little to acknowledge his presence beyond his All Blacks achievements. If ever there was an ambassadorial figure for the modern age it is Lomu.

"Yet he has been used little if not at all to promote the game in this country or promote the New Zealand rugby cause overseas. Lomu has matured into a fine man, comfortable to operate in the corporate surroundings as well as athletic environments."

The NZRU'S attempts to restructure the Air New Zealand Cup have been a dismal failure according to Richard Loe in the New Zealand Herald.

"Fair enough, the NZRU has had to bail out unions like Tasman - but the key factor now is that things have changed.

"The Air NZ Cup, which looked forlorn when it began, has taken off. It has done so across the board, with teams evenly matched, with most sides capable of beating any other, and with crowds in the grassroots, heartland areas pleasingly strong. But the NZRU seems incapable of adjusting to this and seems set on pressing ahead with plans to drop Tasman, Northland, Manawatu and Counties Manukau into the new six-team first division - some of the very areas where support is strongest."

In a strongly-worded editorial, the New Zealand Herald disects the Blues' woes on and off the field.

"According to an old adage, a sporting team's performance on the field will be only as good as that of its front office. On that basis, it is probably logical that the Blues stumble from crisis to crisis. The dominant side in the early days of what was then the Super 12 rugby series has struggled to reach anywhere near those heights in the past few seasons.

"In the normal course of events, this state of affairs should have united the franchise's three unions, Auckland, North Harbour and Northland, and fostered a resolve to bring back the good times. Instead, relations between the partners have sunk to a new low as they argue over match arrangements, player payments, dividends and franchise venues."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Richard Loe issues a warning to Auckland.

"As if the Blues didn't have enough to worry about, they are now faced with the possibility - however slim - that Tony Woodcock and Anthony Boric are coming off contract and could move on.

"This sort of talk looms as a bigger problem for the Blues than many other sides. It's because few players want to go to the franchise. They don't want to play for Auckland and/or the Blues because they are no longer winning teams; no longer an almost-guaranteed stroll into the All Blacks."

Wynne Gray can't understand the All Blacks' attitude towards young lock Isaac Ross in The New Zealand Herald.

"It's started again. Call it what you like, but the All Blacks' rest and reconditioning programme is on the boil again.

"When developing Test lock Isaac Ross turns 25 late next month, the selectors want him pumping iron somewhere in New Zealand, rather than preparing for the All Blacks' fourth test against the Wallabies in Tokyo.

"They are working hard on persuading Ross that it will be in his long-term interests to increase the power and strength in his 115kg frame, instead of undertaking the five tests and Barbarians match schedule with the All Blacks.

"There are a few weeks to run before the team is revealed but the word is that Brad Thorn, Tom Donnelly, Anthony Boric and Jason Eaton will be the four locks taken on tour while Ross is put on a rehab programme.It seems an odd decision on a number of fronts."

Chris Rattue, writing for The New Zealand Herald, believes that kicking-dominated union is beginning to suffer in comparison with the 13 man code.

"In contrast, rugby is bogged down, calling on parochialism and patriotism to save it, rather than giving a substantial return for those emotions.

"Four million fans. Yeah right. The union boys may be able to test the codes of advertising standards when making that claim, but only for the World Cup tournament.

"Rugby, the game we have loved for so long, has ground to a horrible halt, mired by scrum resets, breakdown confusion, kicking festivals, officious referees, endless penalties, errors, an inability to properly police or institute an offside line and a cross-hemisphere political rivalry that stymies potential remedies.

"A veteran photographer told me after the recent Auckland-North Harbour match that there was so much forceback kicking involved, he had trouble finding anything to photograph."

The knives and pens were poised but they had to be stayed after a good performance against the Wallabies, writes Richard Loe in the New Zealand Herald.

"Richie McCaw had a wry smile of satisfaction on his face and he deserved to. He was my player of the night and he took the ball up well and pressured the Aussies and then, in the last quarter, his turnovers and defence were superb when they were pressing.

I heard an Australian commentator saying that McCaw doesn't wield the same sort of influence over a game that he used to. Hooey. He was the most influential player in this match by a long chalk."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Paul Lewis insists it is time for the All Blacks to dump Steve Hansen.

"It's good to know Steve Hansen isn't feeling any pressure. It's great, in fact, because it's a prime reason why the All Black forwards coach should be replaced. Flush the dunny and move on, to coin a phrase.

"Hansen's contention last week that he and the All Blacks didn't need any help was risible. Show me a man who doesn't need help and I'll show you a man under pressure; or a defensive control freak; or a corpse."

Legendary All Black Sean Fitzpatrick isn't mincing his words as he lambasts the current crop of New Zealand internationals after their Tri-Nations defeat to South Africa in an interview with Peter Bills in the New Zealand Herald.

"We said before the start, if the All Blacks could win their own lineout ball or they could get field position, it would be all right .

"But in the first half it was just disgraceful; I don't know what they were doing. They trailed 12-1 in the lineouts at halftime. They had no idea where they were throwing it and the Springboks were totally dominating where New Zealand threw it."

"Fitzpatrick did not attempt to minimise South Africa's clear superiority over his own countrymen. "That intercept try by Jean de Villiers was a reflection of the game. The All Blacks were chasing the game whereas South Africa are quite clearly the best team in the world.

"From 1 to 15, they have shown throughout the competition and since the 2007 Rugby World Cup, they have gone on from strength to strength."

Writing in the Dominion Post, Jonathan Millmow catches up with All Blacks great Jonah Lomu as he prepares to embark on his new career.

"Jonah Lomu is turning heads again. The rugby great, kidney transplant patient and father of one was buying tanning oil yesterday for one of the most unlikely sporting comebacks - the Wellington body building championships.

"Two years ago, Lomu tipped the scales at 142 kilograms. On Saturday night, at the 330-seat Memorial Hall at Victoria University, he hopes to be 114kg. The man nicknamed the Black Bus during his 63-test career now has 50-centimetre biceps and will compete against three others in the over-90kg novice section.

	All Blacks captain Richie McCaw reflects on his side's Tri-Nations defeat to South Africa in Hamilton © Getty Images

"The two things that will ensure I remember this match for a long time to come are watching Francois Steyn bang over three kicks in succession from the wrong side of halfway and the most lop-sided halftime lineout statistics imaginable.

"What Steyn did was quite remarkable but equally staggering was the All Blacks inability at the lineout.You can throw all sorts of cliches around but the simple truth is you cannot expect to compete with a team like South Africa, who put so much pressure on you with their kicking game, if you have a dysfunctional lineout."

The New Zealand Herald's Chris Rattue suggests a glamorous makeover for Kiwi 'second-fives'.

"Second five, to use its short form, has been the poor relation for too long.

"It's the LA Airport of rugby positions, a hectic mishmash of a place where people move with confused urgency and empty hearts, hoping desperately that Lady Luck ensures they reach their next destination and quick. Players must feel that second five is a transit lounge to nowhere. Kiwi kids put posters of first fives on their wall, and the ones of second fives under their bed.

"Hardly anyone seems to want to specialise at No 12, even though the career prospects are excellent through lack of competition. First and foremost, second five needs to cut itself adrift from first five. A name change is in order. New Zealand rugby should drop the second five and call it inside centre, like the rest of the world does.

"A problem for second fives is that the job description sounds second-rate. Our second fives appear as blokes who weren't good enough for the far more authoritative roles that are suggested by the tags first and centre. Second five-eighths is for the losers, the way the old traffic cops were people who couldn't get into the police force."

Rugby could take a lesson from the fraternal five-tackle-kick code where sides are allowed 10 interchanges during a game, according to Wynne Grey in the New Zealand herald.

"These days an All Black test is a 22-man game with a seven-man rack of substitutes to cater for temporary injury, fatigue or as the Lions found out in one of their recent tests against the Boks, replacement when one of their props is a dud. Once the laws were amended to allow substitutes, they started to be bent even more.

"...The levels of concern about bloodbin substitutions rose so much a few years later that officials did not believe All Black lock Norm Maxwell was being replaced because of a torn scrotum. The ref almost needed reviving after his request to check the injury."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Chris Rattue offers measured praise for All Blacks coach Graham Henry after his side conjured a turnaround in their fortunes.

"You could analyse Saturday night's match to death and still end up in a dead end. One of the post-match interviewers talked about it as a return to running rugby. Yes, there was a lot of running around, but with all the botched moves - and this is an ideal point to suggest that Luke McAlister's reintroduction has done nothing for the All Blacks' cohesion - it certainly wasn't running rugby in its pure form.

"While the term "running rugby" focuses on the legs, it's only relevant if everyone is also catching the ball with their hands. Running rugby actually means passing and catching rugby. Yet the occasion, the significance, the transtasman rivalry and closeness of the score, meant it was gripping."

Richard Loe, writing in The New Zealand Herald, ponders the pressure on Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

"It's been interesting talking to Australian rugby people this week about the so-called pressure coming on Robbie Deans. There is no question that people are looking at Robbie's record and are looking for more wins - and I don't think he has a lock on the coach's job for the 2011 World Cup.

"Which is as it should be, especially with reference to the current situation in New Zealand. But I was at a dinner this week with former Wallaby greats Phil Kearns and Tim Horan and asked them whether Deans was coming under pressure. They felt Graham Henry was under more and that Deans had already improved the Wallaby team "immensely".

"They said he'd got their hearts and heads in the right places; had lifted skill levels; had chosen the right personnel and was doing the right thing in bringing hard nuts like Rocky Elsom back. Still, what everyone wants is results."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Chris Rattue lauds Jamie Joseph for ignoring the wishes of the All Blacks.

"Jamie Joseph lost a battle in Rotorua but he won an important war. The Wellington coach is the man of the hour, the saviour, especially for those of us old enough to remember when provincial rugby was vital because of the tribalism involved.

"Joseph is a hero because for once, someone within the regime has stood up to the big brother NZRU and put what he believes is his own cause first.

"In terms of what is immediately best for his Wellington team or the All Blacks, you could argue that Joseph may have been right or wrong in ignoring All Black demands to play test men Cory Jane and Neemia Tialata against Bay of Plenty.

"Bottom line, though, is that Wellington have rights in this, and a lot of us are sick of the overbearing NZRU controlling so many rugby lives. The game needs to breathe."

Writing in The Herald on Sunday, Richard Loe calls for a change of management for the All Blacks.

"I watched Luke McAlister play on Thursday and thought it was worse than pathetic. If the selectors were watching him on Thursday, they'd have to conclude he didn't deserve a spot in the squad. I have not seen McAlister do anything since that duffed-up day in Cardiff in 2007 that justifies him being in a black jersey right now.

"This is the same old stuff we've had from this coaching panel since before the World Cup and people are sick of it.

"I think these guys are getting rattled. They are starting to say dumb things and to contradict themselves - like that nonsense over Dan Carter when Steve Hansen said it would be "panic" to bring him back in. What happens? They select him.

"It's fast becoming time they moved on, the sooner the better. Let's get a hard-nosed coach in - like Jamie Joseph.

"He's a good hard-bitten lad. I know he hasn't even coached Super 14 but we have some people in Super 14 who won't make the next level anyway."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Wynne Gray has little sympathy for All Black coach Graham Henry in his club versus country disagreement.

"If Henry and his cohorts interrupted less, chose smaller squads and players who were showing regular form, there might be more sympathy.

"The current disquiet is only going to get worse with another gap after the Bledisloe in Sydney. Watch out for a mess in October, when the Tri-Nations series is over and there is a large interval before the All Blacks leave for their Northern Hemisphere tour.

"There will be pressure for most to play in the NPC and then a squad of 32 or so will be gone - with the semifinals and final still to be decided."

The New Zealand Herald's Wynne Gray thinks that All Black coach Graham Henry could use a little perspective.

"It is a classic rugby conundrum and one Graham Henry struggled with before he became All Blacks coach.

"His ethos now is that everyone should do what is best for the national team. His glowering demeanour and sparing words did not hide those feelings as he tried to avoid criticising Jamie Joseph for refusing to play All Blacks in his NPC side.

"Perhaps after six years with the international team, Henry has lost a little perspective on the difficulties in preparing sides at lower levels. He seems to get everything he needs, including pulling more than 30 players into an All Blacks refresher course this week in the middle of the national championship.

"Then he gets snarky when some players he wants to have a game are not picked by Wellington for a drive-by appearance before scarpering off to All Black duty."

Rugby Heaven's Marc Hinton believes that the time is right for Dan Carter to make his international return.

"Carter yesterday declared himself not only happy to be back in black, but ready to start against the Wallabies in Sydney next Saturday night.

"And you know what? There was not a hint of cockiness about his declaration. Not a smack of smarminess. And certainly no disrespect to Stephen Donald who has not had it easy as the understudy.

"The 27-year-old 59-test All Black simply knows that when his body is right – and it finally is – and his mind is also in similarly fine fettle, then a test match holds no fears for him. Not even one as vital and pivotal as the All Blacks' fourth Tri-Nations outing which will determine if they have any hope of catching the runaway Springboks.

"Carter may have not played a test for nearly nine months, may have only had three games of rugby since a near six-month layoff with a ruptured Achilles tendon. But he knows himself, and right about now there's a familiar feeling creeping over him."

Chris Rattue, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that the international return of Dan Carter is cause for optimism.

"Caution has filled the room. Fear has swept the streets. Panic is in the air.

"We're all doomed - our matchwinner is back. He can't be ready because rugby is way more complicated than that," goes the cry.

"Wayne Smith, the All Black back coach, isn't even sure that the man he's just picked for the test squad is ready. Former All Black coaches are urging, you guessed it, caution. Bloggers and emailers can barely get their fingers out to tap the keyboards due to the wringing of their nervous hands.

"Breaking the habit of a lifetime, this column has searched long and hard and found a few reasons for optimism."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, asks whether the coaches were to blame for the All Blacks' disappointing losses to the Springboks.

"There's been a lot of debate since that wholly dissatisfying loss to the Springboks about whether it was the coaches' fault or the players' fault.

"It was down to the coaches. I had to turn the TV off the other day when I saw Wayne Smith on a national programme saying they had played the test with counter-attacking tactics because the All Blacks couldn't take the Boks on up front. That kind of talk is poison. What are they trying to do? Smith even looked defeated - he turned up on TV in what looked like a tracksuit and some old flip-flops."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Wynne Gray tells Graham Henry exactly what he needs to do if he is to turn the All Blacks’ season around.

"This is the time for the All Blacks to dig deep and for Graham Henry to deliver all his expertise. New Zealand needs Henry to assume the Great Redeemer epithet bestowed on him when he started his international coaching career with Wales.

"Selection:

"Pick those who have been in some form rather than others like Joe Rokocoko, Brendon Leonard, Rodney So'oialo and Neemia Tialata the selectors felt needed a turn on the tour of South Africa.

"The All Blacks should be the summit of test rugby selection rather than being a team where players get a shot from time to time. All the candidates should get in some matchplay in the next few weeks where their skill, enthusiasm and readiness can be judged for Bledisloe II in Sydney."

Wynne Gray, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that the Air New Zealand Cup is a vital development tool.

"A few years ago, the branding for New Zealand's premier domestic rugby competition was based around the True Colours theme. It seemed a good idea, until Auckland unveiled an alternate version of their traditional blue-and-white hoops. So much for True Colours.

"Auckland have reverted to their original jerseys this year and there is also a revisionist feel about the national championship.

"There was certainly a new fervour percolating around the opening round of this year's series last weekend, while on the other side of the world the All Blacks were going through their struggles.

"While much of the test scene has an artificial edge about it these days, there is enough of a raw attraction about the national championship to pull in admirers."

Chris Rattue, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that time is up for the All Blacks' coaching team.

"All Black coach Graham Henry and his cohorts should be sacked. Enough is enough.

"It's time for the clean out, the night of the long knives, the great purge. You would have to ask serious questions over the quality of the NZRU executive and board as well, given their dalliances with the national provincial competition and staggering decision to reappoint Henry after the last World Cup.

"The Kremlin is full of arrogance and rot, and it's well past the time when this decaying monolith is forced to start all over again. The national game needs leaders with clear thought, charisma and a positive outlook not based on excuse-making for their failures. The All Black coaching and selection panel is the immediate problem to sort out."

The New Zealand Herald's Wynne Gray takes a look at an area of perceived All Black strength that has failed to materialise - scrum-half.

"Halfback was always going to be one of the All Black strengths this season. Separating the merits of Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu and Brendon Leonard loomed as the most difficult task as the trio made a break ahead of injured former international Andy Ellis.

"Six tests into the season it remains an awkward choice, but for different reasons. Cowan was dragged off soon after halftime in the latest defeat to the Boks before Weepu gave another middling replacement display while Leonard watched from the stand.

"After a sparky Super 14 season ended by a hamstring injury, Leonard has not recaptured that zip against Italy or the Boks in his twin starts. He looks like he needs a regular burst of national championship matchplay to recapture that potency.

"Cowan has been the preferred halfback in the last four Bledisloe Cup tests where he has been abrasive and constructive. He was subdued in the weekend against the Boks and, presumably under instructions, used a strange mixture of box kicks in his own territory."

Peter Bills, writing for The Belfast Telegraph, is pleased to see the understated Dan Carter back in action.

"As locations go for comebacks, it might have been sexier. North Harbour’s rugby ground just across the water from Auckland sees the return early this morning our time of a player who stands alone as certainly the most valuable in New Zealand and arguably in the entire game.

"Daniel Carter has not run onto a rugby ground to play a match since Saturday, January 31, when he represented the French club Perpignan against Stade Francais at the Stade de France. In the last minute of that club game, he tore an Achilles tendon.

"Thus, Carter’s return represents a significant event. Wearing the colours of his province Canterbury, Carter will seek to demonstrate that he is almost ready for a recall to the familiar jersey of the All Blacks.

"But what interests me most about Dan Carter is not what sort of a rugby player he is."

Inga Tuigamala believes that the altitude factor is overrated and the All Blacks will have no advantage at sea level in Durban, while he also thinks the restructure of the club game in New Zealand should reward playing performance and nothing else in The New Zealand Herald.

"The reality is that players in the modern age are so fit and professionally drilled that the decades-old belief that playing at altitude gave the Boks an advantage - and thus the visitors an edge on the return to sea level - is a myth.

"Nonetheless, the All Blacks will be delighted to put Bloemfontein behind them. Last week's result would have been a massive disappointment, especially as the team played very well for much of the game...

"So how did it come to this? How did the NZRU allow our domestic competition in our national game to become so muddled?

"You should know where you stand with rugby. You should know that if you win, you stay up; if
you lose you go down. Rugby is about what happens on the field - it's as simple as that. Instead the NZRU is allowing finances, stadium sizes and other non-rugby factors to determine who stays up and who goes down."

Rugby Heaven's Marc Hinton is of the opinion that while this year's All Blacks are far from a vintage crop, they are still a danger to those who face them as they bounce back.

"Should we be alarmed at the gormless errors, the tactical naïveté, the attacking limitations, the lineout lapses, the shortcomings in the maul and the just damn brainless rugby?

"Or should we instead applaud their competitiveness, their ability to dig themselves out of holes, their defensive solidity and their scrummaging strength and just figure, what the heck, the dice were loaded last weekend on the Highveld?

"My feeling is that right now the All Blacks have taken a step backwards. Injuries haven't helped, but the truth is they're just plain old off their game. Not a long way, mind, but far enough at this level for it to cost test matches."

Richard Loe is the latest voice to criticise the criteria for inclusion in New Zealand's new domestic structure in The New Zealand Herald.

"I am one of those people who think the new provincial rugby championship structure should be sorted out on the field.

"Either take out the bottom four from this year or, as a lot of people have suggested, the bottom four from last year. That would mean Auckland would miss out and would start next year in Division One, along with North Harbour, Counties Manukau and Manawatu.

"So what if it is a big union that has to take the slide? When I first started playing for Waikato, they were a second division side. That was the time, 1986, when Warren Gatland, Graeme Purvis and I began playing together and we beat North Harbour in the crucial play-off and went up to first division.

"I think it's good that the NZRU are finally getting to grips with the need to reduce the number of teams - pretty much everyone agrees that 14 is too many. But I don't agree with the criteria they have sorted out to find the top 10 who will make up the Premier Division. Population, player development, player and referee numbers, financial performance - what the hell have they got to do with it?"

Wynne Gray, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that the changes to New Zealand's national competition are based on the wrong criteria.

"The New Zealand Rugby Union will need to add a mathematician to their staff if they go through with plans to restructure the NPC.

"Probably a QC as well for the legal challenges but certainly some boffin, skilled in numerical calculations, to unravel all the extra criteria in deciding which four teams from this season will get the chop.

"In announcing the back to the future series from next year, chief executive Steve Tew admitted it would not be a simple case of the bottom quartet getting the flick, leaving the leading 10 teams to play in the renamed Premier division. No siree.

"Other issues would come into play to sort out a 10-team top division, a six-team division one and a 10-team Heartland competition."

July 22, 2009

Posted by Ruaidhri O'Connor on 07/22/2009

New Zealand's disdain for Graham Henry is baffling

Writing in The Independent, Peter Bills says he cannot fathom why Graham Henry is so unpopular in his homeland despite his impressive win/loss ratio as All Black coach.

When his contract as All Blacks coach was extended recently up to the 2011 World Cup, Graham Henry had steered New Zealand teams to victories in 57 out of the 66 matches in which he was in charge. That is a success ratio of 86.36 per cent. Last Saturday’s 22-16 victory over Australia at Eden Park, Auckland, edged that figure up to 86.56 per cent.

I can tell you that any country in the world would risk life and death in the rush to sign up a coach with that win ratio. But in New Zealand, some continue to sneer and for the life of me, I cannot understand why.

New Zealanders are obsessed with winning the Rugby World Cup. They haven’t done so since 1987 and their nerves are already half shredded at the prospect of mucking it up again, in 2011, especially as the tournament will be held in New Zealand.

But you can’t spend your whole working life focusing on some event two, three or four years away. What are those people saying? Are they suggesting that if the All Blacks lost every game under Henry between now and 2011 but won the World Cup, that would be OK? I find that argument banal.

Posted by Ruaidhri O'Connor on 07/22/2009

Errors erode Muliaina's AAA rating

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Wynne Gray believes that mistakes have crept into Mils Muliaina's game this season, but he still thinks he's the best in the business.

Mils Muliaina and mistakes. Until this season those issues seemed mutually exclusive but the All Black fullback seems to be undermining that theory.

He was in the clutch of defenders swatted off by French five-eighths Francois Trinh-Duc as he scored from a scrum play in Dunedin, outgunned by Cedric Heymans in his classy run in Wellington and swept aside by Berrick Barnes for the Wallabies' first try at Eden Park.

His value was emphasised when he was promoted to lead the All Blacks in Richie McCaw's injury absence. He had his problems leading an under-resourced group against the French and Italians and while he remains the best fullback in the land, Muliaina's contributions were not of his usual ultra-high class.

July 19, 2009

Posted by Huw Baines on 07/19/2009

Judicious subbing

Richard Loe, writing in The New Zealand Herald, has praise for Graham Henry's use of replacements after the All Blacks opened their Tri-Nations account with victory over Australia.

"This was a better test match by the All Blacks than the last three put together - but it was still a bit too close for comfort.

"There was a lot to be pleased with about the All Blacks, although a few individuals will be having a good look at themselves. Still, the commitment, intensity and defence in the second half were all very good.

"I didn't think there was a man of the match - it was too close and too unclear a game for that - and the Australians rattled us for the first 20 or 30 minutes, with Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes looking very dangerous.

"I thought Graham Henry and the All Blacks came out ahead in an area I often criticise them for - substitutions. Instead of just subbing for the sake of it, the substitutions were tactically sound last night and I think they gave the All Blacks the edge."

July 16, 2009

Posted by Ruaidhri O'Connor on 07/16/2009

Sick fans urged to avoid Eden Park

Health officials in New Zealand are asking fans to take some strange precautions to avoid swine flu during Saturday's clash with Australia according Eloise Gibson in the New Zealand Herald.

Deputy Director of Public Health Fran McGrath says people should be considerate and watch the game on television if they think they might be sick, no matter how much they want to be at the park.

Healthy fans should not share beer and should use a hand sanitiser before tucking into a hot dog.

And while she acknowledged it might be difficult, Dr McGrath said people should stay a metre away from anyone who looked like they might be ill.

"If you have symptoms, don't go - you might feel well enough, but be considerate to everyone else.

"Try to stay one metre distant from anyone who's unwell, although it's a bit hard to tell."

She admitted the advice might sound "pious" for a rugby game, but it was important to use an alcohol-based hand gel because the flu virus could stay alive on surfaces such as hand rails.

July 12, 2009

Posted by Huw Baines on 07/12/2009

The player drain

Sean Fitzpatrick, writing for The New Zealand Herald, believes that the answer to New Zealand's player drain lies in private investment in their regions.

"One of the key issues for New Zealand rugby that worries me and a lot of people, is the player drain.

"There have been articles, debates and conversations wrestling with the difficulties presented by players wanting to leave domestic rugby to try their luck in Europe.

"The general perception - whi