New Zealand's Steve Hansen has welcomed World Rugby's slight modification to timing regulations for Head Injury Assessments (HIAs), following confusion over the evaluation of flanker Sam Cane in Saturday's victory over South Africa.
This game must be remembered as one of the all-time great World Cup clashes, one that only adds to the All Blacks-Springboks rivalry that continues to deliver and may yet feature another chapter back in Yokohama on Nov. 2.
Cheslin Kolbe finished with a match-high 128 metres from nine runs with three clean breaks and having left no less than 11 defenders clutching at thin air, but he could not get the Springboks over the line in Yokohama.
Four minutes of first-half brilliance led an otherwise unconvincing New Zealand to a 23-13 victory over South Africa in a clash between two World Cup favourites on Saturday that never quite lived up to its billing.
The countdown is over, the 2019 Rugby World Cup has finally arrived with hosts Japan set to launch the tournament with an opening match against Russia in Tokyo.
Beauden Barrett will start at fullback for New Zealand in their World Cup Pool B opener against South Africa in Yokohama on Saturday after coach Steve Hansen retained Richie Mo'unga at flyhalf.
New Zealand's Sam Whitelock is excited by the rise of fellow lock Patrick Tuipulotu and backed the 26-year-old to provide able cover for the injured Brodie Retallick during the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
The All Blacks' haka is world-famous but for the man who will lead Ka Mate and Kapo O Pango in Japan, it's the connection with the land, his ancestors and teammates that's important rather than putting on a show for the crowd.
On the eve of the Rugby World Cup, Tom Hamilton assesses how far the game has come and how far it still has to go in its understanding of the most prevalent -- and damaging -- injury in rugby.
All Blacks loose forward Luke Jacobson has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup due to a delayed onset of concussion and will be replaced by Shannon Frizell, the team said on Friday.
Everything happens earlier in Super Rugby next year in changes that SANZAAR hopes will make the faltering product more successful in the Australian marketplace.
The All Blacks got exactly what they wanted from their final match ahead of the World Cup when they demolished Tonga 92-7, the chance to play down a man included.
Rookie winger George Bridge scored four tries as the All Blacks completed their Rugby World Cup preparations with a 92-7 thrashing of Tonga at Waikato Stadium on Saturday.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has made several changes to his Bledisloe Cup winning side for their final World Cup warm-up match against Tonga at Waikato Stadium on Saturday.
Sonny Bill Williams believes he has the fitness and improved maturity to play a pivotal role in New Zealand's hunt for a fourth Rugby World Cup triumph.
All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick was sweating on his fitness for the Rugby World Cup until a couple of days before making the squad but is now more confident his shoulder injury will clear up in time for him to make some contribution in Japan.
Steve Hansen and his fellow All Blacks selectors pulled a couple of late selection shocks, but New Zealand's 31-man squad reflects a clear path as to how the defending champions plan to approach the World Cup.
Veteran prop Owen Franks is the big-name omission as the All Blacks named their squad to defend the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
The All Blacks have unveiled the 31-man squad, while coach Steve Hansen was expected to announce a list of names with few surprises, he and his fellow All Blacks selectors did have a couple of shocks up their sleeve on Wednesday, Sam Bruce writes.
New Zealand's first Rugby World Cup-winning captain wants Steve Hansen to keep making the big selection calls as he attempts to "prove himself all over again" on the game's biggest stage.
New Zealand's team bidding for a rugby sevens gold medal at next year's Tokyo Olympics will not include any All Blacks after several approached declined to be involved.
With less than a month until the World Cup kicks off in Japan squad lists are starting to roll in. Here we list every tournament squad as they drop.
"Both teams are very talented teams and both teams will go to the World Cup with a good chance of winning it, I think." That was Steve Hansen's assessment of a wild week of Bledisloe Cup rugby, but just how accurate is it?
The All Blacks say Wales are welcome to the No. 1 world ranking, relaxed to shed themselves of the long-held status heading into a Rugby World Cup defence that is gathering serious momentum.
| Rugby Championship | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Team | GP | PD | P |
| 1 | South Africa | 3 | +51 | 12 |
| 2 | Australia | 3 | +9 | 8 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 3 | -17 | 6 |
| 4 | Argentina | 3 | -43 | 2 |
