All Blacks

Sevu Reece named in the All Blacks squad to the Rugby World Cup

Reece had an impressive season where he was the leading try scorer in Super Rugby for the Crusaders and also produced a scintillating performance against the Wallabies in the second Bledisloe Cup match.

Coach Steve Hansen has also selected stars such as the Barrett brothers, Beauden, Jordie and Scott, Kieran Read, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Tj Perenara, Sam Cane, Dane Coles and Reiko Ioane.

Hansen has also included Brodie Retallick and Ryan Crotty who had suffered injuries earlier in the season.

Crotty returns to rugby this weekend

Crotty fractured his thumb in the Super Rugby semi-final against the Hurricanes in June.

At the time he was given a time frame of eight weeks for recovery.

An All Blacks statement says Crotty will be available for Canterbury's Mitre 10 Cup match against Southland in Christchurch on Saturday.... nine weeks after sustaining the injury.

The announcement is also likely to result in him being confirmed in the All Blacks' World Cup squad which is announced tomorrow.

All Black Sevu Reece returns home to Fiji to celebrate with family

The 22-year-old flew back home to Nadi last night to celebrate his achievement so far with his parents and siblings.

Photos were posted up on social media showing the Reece family home decorated with All Blacks and Crusaders colours to celebrate.

Sevu was accorded a traditional Fijian welcome by his family.

On Saturday night, he silenced critics of his selection in the team that took on the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup by scoring a try.

It was Sevu’s first try in his first test match in the 36-0 win against Australia.

     

Samu Kerevi in awe of veteran All Black

Williams made a devastating contribution to New Zealand's 36-0 trouncing of Australia's Bledisloe Cup hopes at Eden Park on Saturday, scoring one try after missing the last two tests.

Kerevi was one of the defenders he minced on his charge for the try line. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will have to pause for thought before he starts crossing out names on New Zealand's World Cup squad list.

Bledisloe blitz answered World Cup questions

New Zealand bounced back from a record defeat in game one at Perth with a resounding 36-0 victory over the Wallabies in Auckland on Saturday night.

A number of players shone for the All Blacks at Eden Park and Hansen believed that could be viewed in two ways.

"A few people really put their hand up last night and where we had question marks, we no longer have question marks," he said on Sunday.

"In other ways, it makes it a bit tougher, too.

Smith and Ioane dumped as All Blacks attempt Bledisloe rescue

In a potential changing of the guard five weeks out from the Rugby World Cup, coach Steve Hansen has introduced young flyers Sevu Reece and George Bridge to the wing for Saturday's winner-takes-all Test.

Nepo Laulala claims Franks' tighthead berth in one of five starting changes from the team humbled 47-26 by the Wallabies in Perth.

Two changes were forced.

Veteran Sonny Bill Williams returns to the midfield following injury to Jack Goodhue, pushing Anton Lienert-Brown to centre, while fourth-choice lock Patrick Tuipulotu replaces the suspended Scott Barrett.

Scott Barrett suspended for three weeks

Barrett was sent off in the 39th minute for the incident - Australia went on to win the 47-26.

At the SANZAAR review committee, Barrett pleaded guilty to Law 9.16: A player must not charge or knock down an opponent carrying the ball without attempting to grasp the player.

In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Adam Casselden SC ruled the following:

Barrett still waiting on judiciary, could miss start of World Cup

Barrett was sent off for a dangerous tackle near the end of the first half of the All Blacks 47-26 loss to the Wallabies in the opening Bledisloe Cup clash in Perth.

He'll likely be ruled him out this weekend's Bledisloe Cup decider in Auckland, but he could be slapped with a four week ban, which would rule him out of this week's second Bledisloe test in Auckland, the All Blacks one-off test against Tonga and their first two World Cup pool games.

The SANZAAR foul play committee adjourned last night's hearing pending further evidence.

All Black lock Scott Barrett facing possible ban that puts doubt over his World Cup campaign

The SANZAAR foul play review committee will convene late Sunday afternoon (5pm AEST) by video conference to consider Barrett’s case.

Barrett was sent off just before halftime in a key moment of the Wallabies’ upset 47-26 victory in the series opener at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

He was red-carded by French referee Jerome Garces for an apparent shoulder charge which struck Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper in the back and neck as the All Blacks were desperately defending their line.

Scott Barrett red carded as All Blacks get thrashed by Wallabies in Perth

Forget the fact, for a moment, that the 47-26 thrashing at Optus Stadium on Saturday night means the All Blacks must win in Auckland next week to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

Lock Barrett, who was sent off for ramming his shoulder into the neck of Wallabies captain Michael Hooper in the 40th minute, has ensured the All Blacks will be under the microscope ahead of, and during, the global tournament in Japan.

It's hard enough to defend the Webb Ellis Cup without distractions, and Barrett's moment of madness will do his countrymen no favours ahead of the event in the Far East.