All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has explained how tough it was to tell TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett that they weren't starting.
Tongan prop Ben Tameifuna was officially the biggest player at the Rugby World Cup in 2023 packing in at a mammoth 151kg.
The All Blacks showed up a weakness at the coal face which showed England need to bring powerful new scrummagers through
A crowd of 33,210 turned up at the now-closed Newlands to see an age-grade South African side inspired by a then 18-year-old Handre Pollard end the four-year grip that the New Zealanders had on the title.
With the August 28 deadline now passed for the final submission by all 20 teams of their 33-strong squads travelling to France, the names of the 660 players who will be involved at Rugby World Cup 2023 have been confirmed.
Wales don’t feature on the list of Junior World Championship champions. That’s a restricted preserve consisting of only New Zealand, South Africa, England and France.
France are the defending champions from four years ago and their seniors are favourites to hoist the William Webb Ellis trophy in a few months’ time.
When South Africa kick off their latest Junior World Championship campaign at home to Georgia in Stellenbosch on June 24, it will be two days after the 11th anniversary of their 2012 22-16 final win over New Zealand in Cape Town – the last time the tournament was held in that country.
Will the All Blacks XV be used as a vehicle for ensuring the next best options in New Zealand are ready for action should they be required for World Cup duty next year?