All Blacks

The All Blacks went out of their way to include the injured Waisake Naholo in the squad for the tournament, leaving in-form utility Piutau on the sidelines.

Piutau told the Daily Mail that All Blacks coach Steve Hansen told him his move to Ireland was not the reason for his omission, but the former Blues back remains unconvinced.

"It's human to have those 'what ifs'," he said.

"I gave everything I could to be selected. I knew there was a possibility that moving could affect my chances.

Carter is currently travelling around New Zealand promoting the launch of his new book Dan Carter: My Story, before joining Paris-based side Racing Metro next week on a lucrative deal reportedly worth about $3 million a season.

McCaw, who turns 35 on 31 December, led the All Blacks to their third World Cup triumph two weeks ago when his side beat Australia 34-17 in the final at a packed Twickenham stadium in London.

The All Blacks were the first team to retain the trophy, after the openside flanker led the team to victory in 2011 while playing with a broken foot.

The All Blacks were given a hero's welcome in central Christchurch this afternoon, with more than 10,000 lining the streets and turning out to Hagley Park.

The team arrived back in New Zealand yesterday after beating Australia 34-17 in the World Cup final, with thousands.

Today's parade travelled through parts of the central city and into Hagley Park, where team members were officially welcomed by Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel.

Some very, very big names are playing their last games in All Black jerseys and they'll leave a a sizeable hole.

Here's a quick rundown of who's heading off and where they're going:

-Dan Carter (111 caps) is going to Racing 92, a Parisian club known for their outrageous wealth and commitment to aristocratic exclusivity.

-Ma'a Nonu (101 caps) is headed to Toulon, whose owner Mourad Boudjellal courted controversy by comparing some debatable refereeing decisions to being sodomised.

The All Blacks scored four first-half tries and led 22-10 at the break.

But Steve Hansen won't be happy with his team's performance as they made far too many errors.

Our rugby reporter says while the All Blacks had the vast majority of the ball they were generally unable to break the Georgian defence, while their handling let them down.

Barely six weeks after Waisake Naholo limped off with a broken leg on test debut, the Taranaki and Highlanders wing bolted into the All Blacks' World Cup squad of 31, named on Sunday.

The 24-year-old was the big talking point of the announcement at the Beehive in Wellington as he filed out in his suit and tie with the team-mates tasked with defending the Cup in England, starting next month. He was one of four outside backs named, joining Ben Smith, Julian Savea and Nehe Milner-Skudder, the latter forcing his way in with two impressive tests against Australia.

Highlanders first five Lima Sopoaga and Hurricanes lock James Broadhurst will make their first appearances in the black jersey against South Africa on Sunday morning.

Sopoaga says playing inside Ma'a Nonu has been just a dream until now.

"Y'know I grew up in the 04 looking up to Nonu, never did I imagine playing a test with him, especially at Ellis Park in the ten jumper."

Sopoaga says Highlanders coaches Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown told him to strip back his game.

A traditional ceremony took place giving Hansen the title of Tupuivao in the village of Vaiala in Apia.

The family of a former MP Patu Ativalu Togi II decided to honour Hansen because of his close friendship with one of his nephews.