Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wales v All Blacks

Kick-off: 4:10am Sunday 23 November

Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Live blog updates on RNZ

Scott Robertson has made 13 changes for the final All Black test of the year, against Wales in Cardiff. Scott Barrett and Simon Parker are the only survivors from the loss to England at Twickenham, with and entirely new backline named. As expected, one of them is Ruben Love starting at fullback, which will be the 24-year-old’s first appearance on the tour.

That moves Will Jordan to the wing, alongside a returning Sevu Reece, while Damian McKenzie is promoted to starting first five. Beauden Barrett will sit this one out due to the leg injury he suffered in the loss to England, however it’s likely the combination of McKenzie and Love would’ve been initiated anyway.

READ MORE:

Judgement Day: Why just winning in Cardiff won’t cut it for the All Blacks

‘There’s no excuses from us’: Robertson on All Blacks’ inability to maintain pressure

All Blacks: Scott Robertson, Scott Barrett reflect on big loss to England

Grand slammed – what went wrong for the All Blacks against England

All Blacks crash to defeat against England

Ardie Savea gets his first test off of the year, but Peter Lakai is missing too with injury. Parker, Du’Plessis Kirifi and Wallace Sititi make up the loose forwards, with Christian Lio-Willie making a surprise return to the side after playing for the All Blacks XV for the previous three matches.

Cortez Ratima takes over from the injured Cam Roigard at halfback and Finlay Christie comes onto the bench for his first test since the All Blacks’ record loss to the Springboks in Wellington.

There’s another new midfield combination, Robertson opting for veteran Anton Lienert-Brown to start at second five and Rieko Ioane at centre. Leicester Fainga’anuku drops back to the bench.

It’s an entirely new starting front row too, with Tamaiti Williams and Pasilio Tosi propping alongside Samisoni Taukei’aho and George Bower getting his first run off the bench alongside Fletcher Newell. George Bell will come off the bench for his first test of the season.

Wales have famously not beaten the All Blacks since 1953. Despite the All Blacks’ up and down form this season, the chances of that streak being broken are slim, as the Welsh are currently in one of the lowest points in their long history. New coach Steve Tandy guided them to a dramatic win over Japan last weekend, however it was only their second test victory in the last two years.

All Blacks team to play Wales

1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3. Pasilio Tosi, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Anton Lienert-Brown, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Ruben Love

Bench: 16. George Bell, 17. Fletcher Newell, 18. George Bower, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Christian Lio-Willie, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 23. Sevu Reece

Unavailable for selection: Peter Lakai (calf), Tevita Mafileo (rib), Luke Jacobson (concussion), Samipeni Finau (family illness), Jordie Barrett (high ankle)

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Analysis – The Silver Ferns will be able to look back on a season like no other, feeling confident they are on the right path ahead of two big years.

An international window that started with the shock suspension of coach Dame Noeline Taurua, came to an end on Thursday, when they beat England in the series decider in Manchester.

The players rose above a situation that could easily have divided the team, and instead worked towards a common goal on court.

After 12 Tests in two months, the Silver Ferns head into their summer break with a commendable nine-win three-loss record.

It started with a series sweep against South Africa in September. The Silver Ferns then drew the Constellation Cup series 2-2 with the Diamonds before the world champions pipped them in the series decider.

New Zealand then started their Northern Tour with two wins against Scotland, before finishing their season with a 2-1 series win over England, in what was likely their last hit-out before next year’s Commonwealth Games.

Kate Heffernan, who brought up her 50th cap in the final Test, said it meant a lot to finish on a high after the season that’s been.

“It’s been one that I think many of us will remember,” Heffernan said.

“It’s been a long [season] but it has been one I think we have grown, been able to close out games like we have in game one and game three against England, I think that’s massive for us moving forward.”

Despite a gruelling schedule, there were no signs of fatigue in the final Test, with interim coach Yvette McCausland-Durie sticking with the same seven throughout.

That was even more remarkable given a gastro bug hit the majority of team right after the second Test. At its height only six players managed to make it to a team meeting.

“It was a tough trip getting up to Manchester but everybody’s done what they can to make sure that they kept their fluids up, were resting, and just trying to eat what they could,” McCausland-Durie said.

Heffernan said the benefit of a long season was that the on court connections had been able to grow.

Heffernan continued her excellent form at wing defence, and circle defenders Kelly Jackson and Karin Burger were able to pick up more ball in Test 3.

Interim captain Burger has put her hand up to get the gig full-time after impressing both on and off the court.

Ameliaranne Ekenasio was the go-to captain before making herself unavailable for this year’s international season and it’s unclear if she will return to the side.

When Dame Noeline was stood down 11 days out from the series against South Africa, the Silver Ferns were captain-less but a team vote later backed Burger to take the reins.

The 32-year-old has carried herself admirably during a time when the team were put under intense scrutiny.

“We’ve got a job to do regardless of what’s going on out there so it’s been a long three months, I’ve learnt a lot about leadership, and I’m continuously learning about it,” Burger said.

“It does mean a lot [to win the final test] …there were some plans set in place to prepare ourselves really well for Commonwealth Games, which we probably haven’t been able to consistently do. But there’s been a lot of growth mentally and emotionally over the last three months and I know we’ll only be better for it.”

Burger said the fatigue felt by the end of the tour was not physical.

“We’ve prepared ourselves really well physically, it was more the mental and emotional because we’ve been together for so long, but glad we’ve been able to stick it out and know what that looks like for us.”

Dame Noeline was reinstated as head coach in the middle of the Constellation Cup series, but McCausland-Durie was retained for the entire 2025 international season to “minimise disruption” to the Ferns camp.

McCausland-Durie, who is always warm without being emotional, was the perfect person to step in when Netball New Zealand sent out an SOS.

On Monday, the three time ANZ Premiership title winning coach will go back to her day job at the school she helps manage in Auckland.

“To have worked our way through all the challenges and the different bits of noise that were around and I think for each of us it’s been a huge growth. I’ve learnt lots and I think the players we’ve see some huge shifts and hopefully we’ve set them up well for what’s ahead of them in terms of some big major events,” McCausland-Durie said.

Dame Noeline will be hands-on again in the new year but July’s Commonwealth Games might be her first Test back in charge.

The Silver Ferns will be under no illusion about the challenge that awaits them at next year’s pinnacle event, followed by the World Cup in 2027.

The series against the fourth ranked England Roses has confirmed how little separates the two sides. Jamaica, who are ranked third in the world, are another big threat.

Five of the Silver Ferns players will be competing in next year’s Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) league in Australia – four of them for the first time off the back of Netball New Zealand loosening eligibility rules.

Most of the players will be joining their SSN teams in January for pre-season training.

Grace Nweke will return to the NSW Swifts, while former Pulse team-mates Kelly Jackson and Maddy Gordon are joining the Queensland Firebirds.

Kate Heffernan is heading to the Adelaide Thunderbirds, and Karin Burger to the Sunshine Coast Lightning.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Silver Ferns have capped off a turbulent 2025 by taking a 2-1 series win over the England Roses in Manchester, in what’s likely to be their last hit-out before the Commonwealth Games in July.

Thursday’s 55-49 win over England comes after it was revealed a stomach bug had gone through the team.

The test was the Silver Ferns 12th in the space of two months; a marathon international window, which began with the shock suspension of coach Dame Noeline Taurua.

Just days after Netball New Zealand announced the veteran coach was being stood down due to issues in the environment, the Silver Ferns kicked off their season by beating South Africa 3-0.

Before Thursday’s decider, the 12 Tests played between New Zealand and England since the start of 2023 was split six wins each.

One Test a piece and just a three goal margin, it took the final quarter of the third Test for either side to put their foot on the throttle and it was the Silver Ferns.

What’s even more impressive is that the Silver Ferns did it without making any changes throughout the game. Interim Silver Ferns’ coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said a stomach bug had gone through the team after Test two.

The Silver Ferns made two changes to their 12 for Test three, with Carys Stythe and Peta Toeava in for Kimiora Poi and Parris Mason. McCausland-Durie reverted to the Maddy Gordon at centre, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan at wing attack starting combination.

The first act of the game was an England pick-up off the Silver Ferns’ centre pass, which set the hosts off on a strong start. New Zealand were able to get a couple of balls back by applying pressure and forcing mistakes from the England attacking end.

Kate Heffernan, playing her 50th Test for the New Zealand, continued her top form by pouncing on any passes that weren’t pinpoint.

England led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter, after forcing New Zealand into more mistakes.

The Silver Ferns scored the first four goals in the second period to take the lead. Shooter Grace Nweke, who scored at 100 percent in test two, missed a few goals under the post but was a rock again for the Ferns.

With five minutes left in the first half, England coach Jess Thirlby shifted Lois Pearson to wing attack, which saw Helen Housby go into goal shoot.

The Silver Ferns coughed up a chance to end the quarter three goals up, when they lost the ball in the attacking end but nonetheless led by two at half-time.

It looked like the third quarter was going to go the way of England, as it had in the first two Tests when goal defence Funmi Fadoju came up with a big turnover and England took the lead.

The Silver Ferns struggled to get the ball down court with any flow and found themselves two goals down.

But a Kelly Jackson intercept up high and a Heffernan win on circle edge helped keep them in the quarter before the Silver Ferns composed themselves on attack.

New Zealand won the quarter 15-13 to take a 42-38 lead heading into the final term.

Sasha Glasgow, who hasn’t been seen in the Roses dress for some time, came on at goal shoot for the final quarter, pushing Housby back out to GA, but it didn’t have the desired effect.

Two defensive wins from England saw the Roses come within two, but New Zealand grabbed the momentum again to win the final quarter by two goals.

Dame Noeline was reinstated as head coach in the middle of the Constellation Cup series, but McCausland-Durie was retained for the entire 2025 international season to “minimise disruption” to the Ferns camp.

On Monday, McCausland-Durie will go back to her day job at the school she helps manage in Auckland.

It’s been a gruelling but crucial international window for the Silver Ferns as they prepare for next year’s pinnacle event in Glasgow.

The Silver Ferns will be pleased with their performances over these last two months. They rebounded from back to back 17-goal losses to the Diamonds on Australian soil last month, by winning the next two tests in Aotearoa, only to lose the Constellation Cup by one goal in series decider time.

The Silver Ferns then predictably beat the Scottish Thistles twice in Glasgow, before meeting England for the three-Test series.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Silver Ferns take on England for their final test in Manchester to decide the series.

It is the Silver Ferns 12th test in the space of two months.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Black Caps’ Daryl Mitchell is the new world number one ranked ODI batter.

It is just the second time a New Zealander has occupied the top spot, following Glenn Turner in 1979.

Mitchell replaces Rohit Sharma of India after scoring his seventh ODI century against West Indies in Christchurch on Sunday.

He climbed two spots with Sharma now second and Ibrahim Zadran of Afghanistan third.

Mitchell was injured in the Christchurch game and will miss the rest of the ODI series.

Rachin Ravindra is the next highest New Zealand batter at 13 in the ODI rankings.

Meanwhile, Jacob Duffy, who was the top wicket-taker in the T20 series against West Indies, has moved up to number two in the T20 bowling rankings.

India’s Varun Chakaravarthy remains number one.

New Zealand is number two in the ODI team rankings, fourth in T20 rankings and fifth in the Test rankings.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wales v All Blacks

Kick-off: 4:10am Sunday 23 November

Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Live blog updates on RNZ

While it feels as though the All Blacks’ season came to a shuddering halt last weekend at Twickenham, there is still one test to play. Scott Robertson’s side now finds itself in Cardiff in what was going to be the victory lap of a Grand Slam, except England had other ideas.

Read more:

Judgement Day: Why just winning in Cardiff won’t cut it for the All Blacks

‘There’s no excuses from us’: Robertson on All Blacks’ inability to maintain pressure

All Blacks: Scott Robertson, Scott Barrett reflect on big loss to England

Grand slammed – what went wrong for the All Blacks against England

All Blacks crash to defeat against England

Robertson has already signalled the team will change for this last test, however, it’s bad news for one player who was definitely getting a run at Principality Stadium. Tevita Mafileo is out injured, so we know that much, but what else is going to be revealed once Robertson names his side at 9pm tonight?

All you need is Love?

This is a given, since Robertson explicitly stated Ruben Love was playing when interviewed on Monday. So he will start at fullback, which means the Will Jordan may shift to the wing or even back to the bench.

Caleb Clarke is back from his concussion so should start on the wing – unless Robertson really wants Leicester Fainga’anuku out there again. Sevu Reece is back in contention after a game for the All Blacks XV as well.

Front row rotation, surely

Ethan de Groot and Fletcher Newell have had heavy workloads this season and are due a rest, so expect the monster propping duo of Tamaiti Williams and Pasilio Tosi to start. George Bower hasn’t been used all tour so should come onto the bench, while Mafileo’s misfortune means Newell will need to back up as well.

The scrum has a bit of a point to prove after a rather low output since the win over Ireland, so whatever the combo is will be hungry for penalties and field position.

A Bell will ring

Samisoni Taukei’aho will start at hooker and Bell will come off the bench, after his highly unusual dropping then recall to the most unused role in the All Blacks as the third hooker. However, Bell richly deserves some gametime after great form in the NPC, ironically his call up meant he missed the glory of being in the victorious Canterbury side that took out the final.

Another new midfield?

Quinn Tupaea and Billy Proctor’s combination against England was somewhat exploited in the big loss, especially for Fraser Dingwall’s try that gave the home side the lead. Does Robertson move Fainga’anuku back to centre or go with some tested defensive options in Rieko Ioane or Anton Lienert-Brown.

Ioane hasn’t been used at all on the tour and must be feeling pretty determined to prove a point, in what might be his last game before a stint playing for Leinster.

Does Ardie finally get a rest?

Unlikely, because the All Blacks are down to the last reserves of loose forwards and leadership. Savea has been an absolute workhorse from start to finish in 2025, so it’s fitting that he should finish the season at the forefront of an All Black win. It’s just a case of what combination of Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi, Simon Parker and Du’Plessis Kirifi joins him.

Does it mean he’ll be captain, though? The second row is banged up too, but there is room for Scott Barrett to take the weekend off due to the good form of Josh Lord and Fabian Holland, plus Sam Darry being available after a very good NPC season of his own.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The All Whites have ended the year with a 2-0 loss against Ecuador in New Jersey.

In the first ever game between these two sides the world no.23 South Americans scored a rare goal four minutes into the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Nilson Angulo was credited with the opening goal that snuck in past goalkeeper Max Crocombe’s post off an assist from Gonzalo Plata. It was Angulo’s first goal for his country.

Leonardo Campana scored the second seven minutes before full-time, also his first for Ecuador.

Ecuador have now only scored five goals in their last 15 games will also keeping yet another clean sheet. This victory stretched Ecuador’s unbeaten run to 15 games.

Crocombe’s efforts between the posts stopped Ecuador from capitalising on even more of their chances.

Meanwhile, the New Zealanders were unable to truly test the opposition keeper.

All Whites coach Darren Bazeley made changes to the starting side for the second game of the international window with Tyler Bindon replacing Michael Boxall in defence, Alex Rufer and Ben Old started in the midfield for Joe Bell and Matthew Garbett with Ben Waine also getting his chance up front.

Marko Stamenic skippered the side with Boxall on the bench and regular captain Chris Wood missing the All Whites’ games this month.

New Zealand defender Bill Tuiloma was forced from the field with a leg injury just before half-time with Storm Roux called on as the early replacement.

The All Whites end the calendar year with three wins, six losses and a draw.

On 6 December the Football World Cup draw will be held in Washington DC and the All Whites will find out who they will play, and where, at next year’s tournament co-hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico.

The All Whites have two more international windows that they could play in next year, in March and early June, before the world cup kicks off on 11 June.

Read how the game unfolded here

All Whites: Max Crocombe, Kees Sims, Nik Tzanev, Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Francis de Vries, James McGarry, Storm Roux, Tommy Smith, George Stanger, Finn Surman, Bill Tuiloma, Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Ben Old, Owen Parker-Price, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenić, Kosta Barbarouses, Andre de Jong, Eli Just, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine.

Ecuador: Hernan Galindez, Moises Ramirez, Cristhian Loor, Angelo Preciado, Piero Hincapie, Felix Torres, Willian Pacho, Cristian Ramirez, Joel Ordonez, Jhoanner Chavez, Leonardo Realpe, Moises Caicedo, Alan Franco, Gonzalo Plata, Kendry Paez, Alan Minda, John Yeboah, Pedro Vite, Jordy Alcivar, Yaimar Medina, Denil Castillo, Patrik Mercado, Enner Valencia, Kevin Rodriguez, Leonardo Campana, Nilson Angulo, John Mercado, Jeremy Arevalo.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The All Whites will play their final game of 2025 against unfamiliar opposition in an unfamiliar venue.

World No. 85 New Zealand have never played the world No. 23 Ecuador.

While the South Americans will feel at home in Sports Illustrated Stadium, after playing there 11 times, the NZ squad will play for the first time at the venue that hosts Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls.

Both teams have already qualified for next year’s Football World Cup and come into this game after playing friendlies last week – the All Whites faced Colombia and Ecuador took on Canada.

Kick-off is at 2.30pm.

All Whites: Max Crocombe, Kees Sims, Nik Tzanev, Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Francis de Vries, James McGarry, Storm Roux, Tommy Smith, George Stanger, Finn Surman, Bill Tuiloma, Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Ben Old, Owen Parker-Price, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenić, Kosta Barbarouses, Andre de Jong, Eli Just, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine.

Ecuador: Hernan Galindez, Moises Ramirez, Cristhian Loor, Angelo Preciado, Piero Hincapie, Felix Torres, Willian Pacho, Cristian Ramirez, Joel Ordonez, Jhoanner Chavez, Leonardo Realpe, Moises Caicedo, Alan Franco, Gonzalo Plata, Kendry Paez, Alan Minda, John Yeboah, Pedro Vite, Jordy Alcivar, Yaimar Medina, Denil Castillo, Patrik Mercado, Enner Valencia, Kevin Rodriguez, Leonardo Campana, Nilson Angulo, John Mercado, Jeremy Arevalo.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Black Caps take on the West Indies at McLean Park in Napier for their second ODI.

In-form Henry Nicholls has been recalled for the two remaining matches for the series, after Daryl Mitchell was ruled out.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wales v All Blacks

Kick-off: 4:10am Sunday 23 November

Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Live blog updates on RNZ

Analysis – A high pressure system has arrived directly over the All Blacks this week, ironically as they prepare to face easily the weakest team on their schedule in the last test of the year. Wales are arguably at the lowest ebb in their long, proud history, but that’s a conversation for that side of the world – right now, we’re one poor result away from a full on All Black crisis.

On the surface, nine wins from 12 tests doesn’t look too far away from the Springboks’ 10 from 12. However, Rassie Erasmus’ side is the gold standard after a big win against France and ability to roll out almost two completely different starting teams of equal quality.

Quite simply, the Springboks are only getting better as the season progresses, while you can’t say that about the All Blacks at all. In fact, in some tactical areas they’ve definitely gone backwards, and this weekend in Cardiff will show just where Scott Robertson’s overarching strategy regarding depth is at.

Robertson has already confirmed that the team will be rotated, which admittedly anyone could have guessed once the tour schedule was announced. There are several players in the squad that have been waiting for their turn to impress, while a couple more that have had to be put into the main test lineup already.

Whether the All Blacks like it or not, this test is going to be the one that could really expose a far more structural weakness and it’s a bit of a no-win situation anyway. It’s not like they’re going to lose – Wales are so bad they’d struggle to make the NPC playoffs – but they do have the ability to frustrate the All Blacks into playing poorly themselves.

Think back to the corresponding fixture last year, against Italy in Turin. It was a stinker in every sense of the word, with the Italians once again dragging the All Blacks down to their level and producing one of the least memorable displays of rugby in recent history. It says a lot that the most notable performance to come out of it was TJ Perenara leading the haka.

The All Blacks can’t afford a blundering stagger to the finish line, but even if they do smash Wales convincingly, it won’t be the main team that did it anyway. So really it rests on the performances of the newly rotated players to answer any questions regarding depth, but even then the ones over the coaching and direction will remain.

In their defence, the depth perception has been clear already in second row. Josh Lord has stepped up in Patrick Tuipulotu’s absence and Scott Barrett’s injury and showing just why the All Blacks have persisted with him despite the numerous injury issues of his own.

So now hopefully we’ll find out about a few more and what it might mean for the future, but even then, it might throw a spanner in the works regarding how valuable the All Black high performance set up is. George Bell and Sam Darry will get decent game time and if they go well, it’ll say more about the usefulness of them playing almost an entire NPC campaign with Canterbury.

This will very much be a test of how well prepared the All Black system is at priming the wider squad. Let’s just hope it’s more aesthetically pleasing than the shocker last year in Turin.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand