The All Blacks will roll out most of their remaining heavy artillery for next weekend's crucial Tri-Nations rugby Test against the Wallabies in Auckland.
Describing his team's performance against Western Province as a "huge disappointment" Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar praised the home team for their quality performance but said his players had put themselves under pressure.
Taranaki and Bay of Plenty both inflicted huge defeats on two of the traditional powerhouses on New Zealand in Sunday's NPC action.
Congratulations to Mike Tindall (England Rugby Player) and Zara Phillips (The Queens Granddaughter) who were married today at a private ceremony held in Scotland.
The first upset of the Canadian Rugby Championship was delivered in its first game as British Columbia downed The Rock 43-19. Last year’s champions were matched up front by a fierce and determined BC pack but and had no answer for the scything runs and slick passing of their opponents.
Prairie Wolf Pack avoided the heartbreak of a blown lead after they scored a late try to defeat Ontario Blues in the first round of the Canadian Rugby Championship.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers surrendered all hope of winning the Tri-Nations crown after his side was routed by the All Blacks 40-7 on Saturday and said the focus was now the World Cup.
The Lions outscored the Leopards by eight tries to five to secure a scrappy 53-36 Currie Cup victory in Johannesburg as they moved to the top of the standings on Saturday night.
A late surge put the icing on a business-like performance from Canterbury as they dismissed the challenge of Manawatu, finishing 42-15 victors in Christchurch on Saturday.
Western Province brushed aside the challenge of the their old rivals Blue Bulls who were outclassed in a comprehensive 35-7 Currie Cup victory at Newlands on Saturday.
The Sharks started like a house on fire and then managed to hold off a determined Cheetahs side to secure a 43-34 victory in their Currie Cup clash at Kings Park on Saturday.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was satisfied with the way his side got the job done against a weak Springbok team, but warned that they will have to improve on a performance which he described as 'patchy'.
All Blacks and former Hurricanes scrumhalf Piri Weepu has signed with the Blues ahead of next year's Super Rugby season.
Springbok captain John Smit admitted that his side was 'exposed' by a vastly superior All Black outfit that demolished the South Africans in a comprehensive performance in Wellington on Saturday.
New Zealand came to within three points of their biggest win over South Africa, when the All Blacks hammered the hapless Springboks 40-7 in Wellington on Saturday.
