Rugby: Magpies coaching staffer Bryn Evans joins the All Blacks panel
While the 40-year-old former Magpie, Blues, Hurricanes and Highlanders Super Rugby player and All Black is being congratulated by
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NZ Herald
6 hours ago
- NZ Herald
All Blacks v Argentina Rugby Championship first test: Line-ups, kickoff times, how to watch – all you need to know
Argentina won - 3 Draws - 1 All Blacks points scored - 1506 Argentina points scored - 554 All Blacks' record in Argentina 1985 - All Blacks 33 Argentina 20, Buenos Aires 1985 - All Blacks 21 Argentina 21, Buenos Aires 1991 - All Blacks 28 Argentina 14, Buenos Aires 1991 - All Blacks 36 Argentina 6, Buenos Aires 2001 - All Blacks 24 Argentina 20, Buenos Aires 2006 - All Blacks 25 Argentina 19, Buenos Aires 2012 - All Blacks 54 Argentina 15, La Plata 2013 - All Blacks 33 Argentina 15, La Plata 2014 - All Blacks 34 Argentina 13, La Plata 2016 - All Blacks 36 Argentina 17, Buenos Aires 2017 - All Blacks 36 Argentina 10, Buenos Aires 2018 - All Blacks 35 Argentina 17, Buenos Aires 2019 - All Blacks 20 Argentina 16, Buenos Aires 2023 - All Blacks 41 Argentina 12, Mendoza All Blacks v Argentina line-ups All Blacks side: Named 8.30am Thursday Argentina side: TBC Form guide (past five tests) All Blacks: W, W, W, W, L Argentina: W, L, L, W, L All Blacks v Argentina - last time they met All Blacks 42 Argentina 10, Eden Park Rebounding in ruthless fashion from the first shock loss of Scott Robertson's tenure, the All Blacks delivered a clinical, backs-to-the-wall response at Eden Park to square this year's ledger with the Pumas. In challenging conditions, after heavy rain throughout the day, the All Blacks scored five first-half tries to put the result to bed by halftime. From an individual standpoint Will Jordan, in his first test start since shoulder surgery, delivered an immediate reminder of his class by proving a constant threat. Ardie Savea with his carrying, Tupou Vaa'i, in Scott Barrett and Patrick Tuipulotu's absence, impressed and Tamaiti Williams, other than one scrum penalty, nailed his starting elevation. Beauden Barrett slotted into first five-eighths for the final half-an-hour to reignite the debate about whether he or McKenzie should start there. Inside him, Cortez Ratima once again injected speed from the base. All Blacks v Argentina referee Frenchman Pierre Brousset is in charge of the test. His only previous All Blacks match was last year's 29-11 win over Italy in Turin. The only time he's been in charge of an Argentina test was the 67-27 home win over Australia last September. He most recently was referee for the British and Irish Lions win over the Brumbies. All Blacks v Argentina TAB odds All Blacks: $1.30 Draw: $21 Argentina: $3.40 All Blacks Rugby Championship schedule August 16, 9.10am - All Blacks v Argentina, Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium, Cordoba August 23, 9.10am - All Blacks v Argentina, Velez Sarsfield Stadium, Buenos Aires Saturday, September 6, 7.05pm – All Blacks v South Africa, Eden Park, Auckland Saturday, September 13, 7.05pm – All Blacks v South Africa, Sky Stadium, Wellington Saturday, September 27, 5.05pm – All Blacks v Australia, Eden Park, Auckland Saturday, October 4, 10.45pm – All Blacks v Australia, Perth All Blacks v Argentina - how to follow the action For live commentary of All Blacks v Argentina, join Elliott Smith on Newstalk ZB, Gold Sport and iHeartRadio. Plus the Alternative Commentary Collective will be providing commentary on their iHeartRadio stream. You can watch the game on Sky Sport 1 and it will be livestreaming on Sky Sport Now. You can also find live updates at
NZ Herald
7 hours ago
- NZ Herald
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson faces wing selection challenge
If a fake news story went out on social media that a secret factory had been found in New Zealand where world-class wings were being made, half the rugby world would have been inclined to believe it. But those good old days feel a long time ago, and the All Blacks of 2025 look to be building an impressive talent pool in most positions – bar the one they are famed for never having to try overly hard to fill. It doesn't feel like head coach Scott Robertson has to rip the whole thing up and start again, but he does have to be open to thinking about making some personnel changes after the Rugby Championship if the current cohort continue to underwhelm. The All Blacks need potency on their wings. Their ultra-fast game plan needs genuine finishers on each flank – be it through power, pace, elusiveness or – ideally – a combination of all three. Both wings have to be competent under the high ball – a non-negotiable in the box-kick-heavy world of international rugby – and both wings have to be adept chasers, able to compete in the air and win back possession. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson wants potent wingers for his side's fast game plan. Photo / Photosport Playing wing effectively for the All Blacks these days is a combination of glamour and grunt work and throughout the July series, no one wing delivered on both fronts. Rieko Ioane's instincts were rusty in the first test, where his kick-chase was poor and his timing off. He looked sharper and more alive to opportunity in the second test, but now that he has been officially listed as an outside back rather than as a midfielder, he needs to show definitively throughout the Rugby Championship that he can be the same potent force on the wing that he was between 2016 and 2018. His Blues teammate Caleb Clarke is going to have to hope he can recover in time to deliver a much-needed reminder that he can be the everything man the All Blacks are looking for. He brings a proven ability to compete for high kicks, but his body of work over the past 18 months has been inconsistent and, with Leicester Fainga'anuku set to become eligible for the end-of-year tour, there's maybe a hidden reality that only one of Ioane and Clarke are long-term propositions. Robertson will likely want a mix of body types and skillsets in his mix, and Fainga'anuku, Ioane and Clarke could all be put under the umbrella of power wings – and being broadly similar as they are, retaining all three for the 2027 World Cup may not be possible. The pressure is building on Ioane and Clarke to freshen and strengthen their case for continued inclusion, which is the same for Sevu Reece, who must surely be the most vulnerable of the current contingent. Sevu Reece (left) and Rieko Ioane are both hoping for spots as wingers with the All Blacks. Photo / Photosport Robertson, fairly, decided not to invest in Mark Tele'a this year after the Blues wing announced he will be moving to Japan in 2026, but by the same token, Reece doesn't inspire as being any more likely to still be in selection contention by the next World Cup. Reece, it could be argued, is holding his place partly because Robertson and his selection panel have not yet been convinced that any of the younger, emerging wings such as Emoni Narawa, Leroy Carter, Chay Fihaki or Caleb Tangitau are quite ready yet. But there is also this lingering possibility that Robertson sees Reece as a Cheslin Kolbe figure – a small but powerful, fast-footed runner with the ability to pull off the impossible in confined spaces. If he does see Reece in a similar light to the magical South African, he's probably the only one. Reece doesn't induce the same sense of possibilities – his top-end speed isn't there, his instincts are not as sharp and his skillset is not as diverse. It says something problematic about the All Blacks that they continue to try to manufacture an inferior product to the Springboks in a position they used to lead the world. There seems to be more upside and less risk in the All Blacks experimenting with Narawa and Carter during the Rugby Championship than there does persevering with Reece. But whatever choices get made, the All Blacks need to rekindle that sense of fear they used to induce every time they started moving the ball towards the wing. Gregor Paul is one of New Zealand's most respected rugby writers and columnists. He has won multiple awards for journalism and written several books about sport.
NZ Herald
8 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Letters: Christopher Luxon needs to remember he is a politician and no longer a CEO
More to NZ rugby than Mo'unga Firstly, may I state that Richie Mo'unga is an excellent first five and I fully support him going overseas to earn good money to support him and his family in the future. New Zealand rugby has become obsessed with his absence as if the All Blacks' future lies fully in his hands. Mo'unga is a very good first five but will never rank up there with the likes of Dan Carter. Mo'unga enjoyed the benefits of playing behind the great Crusaders pack, which gives a first five the time and space to play expansive football. Let's not forget that the World Cup is still two years away and a lot can happen in that time. So can the All Blacks selectors stop obsessing over the loss of Mo'unga and get on with developing their local talent. Just watch some of the school First XV games and see the talent that is available, just waiting to be discovered. Jock MacVicar, Hauraki. Top marks NZ! Give tax breaks to the better-off. Cut funding for science. Sack civil servants. Remove environmental protections. Remove EV subsidies. Make it harder for disadvantaged people to vote. Deny public health advice. Promote drilling for oil and gas. Deny hand-ups to those needing help to achieve equality. Deny history. 10 out of 10 New Zealand! Bill Irwin, Nelson. Troubling trend for sports The article (August 9) on the termination of the Mountain Green Archery Club's lease of its base on Ōwairaka (Mt Albert) highlights a troubling trend in Auckland. As with speedway and Western Springs, council officials seem disconnected from the community, expecting volunteers to perform miracles while juggling jobs and personal lives. Fostering Olympic-level talent in sports like archery is becoming harder. Motorsport and speedway — once breeding grounds for champions such as Bruce McLaren and Liam Lawson — are being pushed out, possibly accessible only to the wealthy. Even golf and horse racing clubs face pressure to relocate or restructure. Meanwhile, football codes thrive with ample fields and support, producing future Warriors, All Blacks and All Whites. There's nothing wrong with football — but other sports risk drifting further from reach, even for school-aged kids. We're at risk of becoming a football-and-beer nation, losing the diversity that makes our sporting culture rich. The council should start listening and advocate for all sports, the community and the volunteers who keep them alive. John Riddell, Hobsonville. Green shoots? The idea of the Green Party leading the next (or any) Government is political positioning rather than political reality. Chlöe Swarbrick is right that most New Zealanders lament politics. Most New Zealanders also seem to have little enthusiasm for the kind of 'progressive' and 'transformational change' the Greens advocate. The revolution is unlikely to take place in 2026. Brendan Jarvis, Wellington. Make a climate stand George Williams (August 11) rejects the opinion of Emma Mackintosh (August 8) that we should be actively reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and says that a strong economy is more important. He is correct that our total emissions are but a drop in the bucket on a global scale, but does this give us the right to carry on our high per capita fossil fuel use? New Zealand has led the world in the past and we could make a stand now, at an individual and a government level to reduce our emissions. Our grandchildren will be living in a very unpleasant world. I hope they can look back with pride at our actions today. Linda McGrogan, Taupō.
