Named in the All Blacks third Rugby World Cup team to face Italy, Sam Whitelock is set to become New Zealand’s most-capped test player with 149. He eclipses Richie McCaw for that honour, standing alone atop a prestigious sporting mountain. Here are the defining performances of his All Blacks’ career.

Scotland has been urged to stay focused as the points are expected to pile up against a weak Romania in their Rugby World Cup match on Sunday.

As far as the Black Ferns’ priorities go for this weekend’s test against the Wallaroos, perfection is not high on that list.

The Rugby World Cup is in full swing and for the All Blacks, their upcoming match against Italy on Saturday is a crucial one.

Manu Samoa head coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua has made four changes to his side for their Pool D must-win match against Japan in Toulouse on Friday morning New Zealand time.

Gandalf. Peaches. Godfather. Anyone would think the All Blacks were quoting movie titles rather than paying tribute to Sam Whitelock.

Tamaiti Williams has soaked in the French scenery and engaged in scuffles with All Blacks teammates at training. This week, though, the World Cup truly comes to life for the Crusaders prop as he contemplates a pinnacle stage debut.

Elliott Smith and Liam Napier jump on for Rugby Direct from Lyon, as the All Blacks take a backseat for a few days with the Rugby World Cup ramping up with two big pool games with major ramifications.

Tonga No. 8 Vaea Fifita was suspended for their last two Rugby World Cup pool games against South Africa and Romania today for his red card.

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Australia’s World Cup campaign has become their worst-ever showing at the tournament - following a 40-6 thrashing at the hands of Wales in Lyon.

Former All Black and World Cup winner Sonny Bill Williams has not held back in his assessment of the Wallabies against Wales.

Following Australia’s worst Rugby World Cup defeat that pushed it to the verge of their earliest Rugby World Cup exit, coach Eddie Jones insisted he’s still the man to turn the Wallabies around.

It’s the sporting spectacle that seizes New Zealand’s imagination every four years. The All Blacks arrive at this year’s Rugby World Cup having rediscovered rich form. But the field has never been more even, with France and Ireland among the favourites to win and the Pacific Island nations boosted in their playing ranks.

If Jason Ryan had his way, Shannon Frizell would be ensconced in the All Blacks for many years to come.

Australian coach Eddie Jones has swung the axe on World Cup rookie first five-eighths Carter Gordon, after he was substituted with more than 30 minutes to go in their shock upset loss to Fiji.

All of us occasionally find something online which we wish we had never seen. This week’s unwelcome incursion came via ITV’s social media team, which provided a chilling image that has been impossible to shake. Nine heinous headshots from the Rugby World Cup which signal the apocalypse. Yes, the mullet is back.

Ange Capuozzo is restored to fullback and Italy looks logical again.

Italy rebounded from a 10-point halftime deficit to blow away Uruguay 38-17 this morning and set up a potentially decisive clash against New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup.

Training ground tensions flared under the searing Bordeaux sun as the All Blacks scrap for spots in the first-choice team and fight for their World Cup survival.

Suzanne McFadden for LockerRoom

Ten thousand fans flocked to Stade Chaban-Delmas to catch a glimpse of the All Blacks as the team set up camp in Bordeaux for their Rugby World Cup bye week.

It’s still early days at Rugby World Cup 2023 but the Six Nations teams are making a stamp on the tournament with a strong chance Northern Hemisphere sides could top all four groups.

South Africa unsurprisingly reverted to their strongest starting lineup to face top-ranked Ireland in a crunch pool game at the Rugby World Cup while also naming seven forwards and just one back on the bench today in a clear indication of how the Springboks aim to play.

South Africa called up first five-eighth Handre Pollard to replace injured hooker Malcolm Marx at the Rugby World Cup today, leaving the Springboks with a front-row gamble for their title defense in France.

Fiji defeated Australia 22-15 for the first time in 69 years and sent a jolt of joy rippling through the Rugby World Cup today. Here’s how the world reacted:

Fiji defeated Australia 22-15 for the first time in 69 years and sent a jolt of joy rippling through the Rugby World Cup today.

England first wore Japan down then scored a bizarre try and rolled to a 34-12 win and a second straight victory at the Rugby World Cup on Monday morning.

Tonga dropped their captain and most experienced player — Sonatane Takulua — for their Rugby World Cup opening match against top-ranked Ireland on Sunday NZT.

A full list of all the results and fixtures from Rugby World Cup 2023.

After a clinical display against the All Blacks, France was way less convincing against Uruguay.

Another week of Rugby World Cup 2023, another contentious card decision with even former All Black Sonny Bill Williams, known for one of the most infamous red cards, weighing in.

The two biggest takeaways from the first block of games at the Rugby World Cup reinforced a couple of pre-tournament predictions.

The All Blacks appear to have multiple areas to work on at the Rugby World Cup following their opening defeat to France in Paris.

England head into this tournament ranked eighth in the world having lost five of their last six games and, at that rate. Even if they lose to Argentina, beating Japan in the second outing is likely to ensure a place in the quarterfinals where Australia, Wales or Fiji will be the probable opponent.

George Ford kicked everything, including three first-half drop goals, to give 14-man England a pressure-relieving 27-10 win over Argentina at the Rugby World Cup on Saturday.

French national sporting newspaper L’Equipe have set an early tone for the Rugby World Cup opener.

All you need to know ahead of the Rugby World Cup opener between the All Blacks and France at Stade de France.

It’s a big weekend for rugby league and union fans this weekend, with the Warriors taking on Penrith in a qualifying final only a few hours after the All Blacks face France in the Rugby World Cup opener.

Only days before the Rugby World Cup starts in France, the home team’s preparations for the tournament have been disrupted by calls to remove one of its players because of a historic racism charge.

Former French loose forward Olivier Magne has left little to the imagination in his assessment of the All Blacks’ chances for the Rugby World Cup.

When All Blacks legend Sir Bryan Williams watched a new rugby documentary focused on Pasifika rugby players and the struggles they sometimes face, it brought him to tears.

Auckland Transport (AT) has “nothing to say” after a vandal graffitied a rallying call for Warriors supporters on the side of one of its trains.

Hawke’s Bay Tui captain and leading points-scorer Krysten Cottrell has been around long enough to know it’s a big call to expect her team to roll the defending Farah Palmer Cup champions in a national women’s rugby championship semifinal on Sunday in Christchurch.

Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee has addressed Julian Savea’s exit from the club, saying poor contract negotiations saw the parties part ways.

Scott Barrett is free to play against France in the opening game of the World Cup after his red card against South Africa was not deemed worthy of a ban.

Hosts France have been dealt a major injury blow just over a week out from the Rugby World Cup opener against the All Blacks.

A review of New Zealand Rugby governance has found the current New Zealand Rugby Union constitution and consequent governance structures “are not fit for purpose in the modern era.”