News | Rugby
15 Dec 2025 7:01
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Sports > Rugby

    Covid has wreaked havoc on the All Blacks backline and coaches this week, but it's blindside flanker shaping as an intriguing selection for the opening test against Ireland

    Covid has wreaked havoc on the All Blacks backline and coaches this week, but it's blindside flanker shaping as an intriguing selection for the opening test against Ireland


    Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator Elliott Smith says Ian Foster and his selectors will be pondering whether to select a specialist blindside in the former of Akira Ioane or put someone else in the six jumper and hope they can make a fist of it.

    Blues openside Dalton Papalii seems an obvious contender for the jersey after his superb Super Rugby season.

    The other complicating factor could be more Covid cases in camp - the All Blacks will be hoping for a clear run from here.

    The 23 will be named at 11:30am.

    INTERNATIONAL RUGBY WITH ACCESS SOLUTIONS - ELEVATING YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS TO A HIGHER LEVEL.

    © 2025 Newstalk ZB, NZCity

     Other Rugby News
     14 Dec: The Tauranga Whai have defended their Tauihi national women's basketball league title with a resounding 93-66 win over the Mainland Pouakai in the final in Christchurch
     14 Dec: A case of deja vu for darts veteran Paul Lim at the Darts World Championship in London
     14 Dec: A couple of big names have navigated their way into the second round of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace
     13 Dec: Kiwi triathlete Hayden Wilde has only just won the first world title of his career...but he's already looking ahead to next season's T100 World Championship
     13 Dec: It's been a wild payday for Kiwi triathlete Hayden Wilde ...pocketing almost four hundred thousand dollars for finishing the T100 season in perfect style
     13 Dec: New T100 World Champion Hayden Wilde is adamant he didn't feel under pressure to win a first-ever triathlon world title
     12 Dec: Head coach Clark Laidlaw anticipates a seamless return to the Hurricanes for Jason Holland
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Tauranga Whai have defended their Tauihi national women's basketball league title with a resounding 93-66 win over the Mainland Pouakai in the final in Christchurch More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    New Zealand's economy is set to expand next year, as several key indicators point to economic recovery More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Best female actor - drama: 6:50

    Entertainment:
    Best male actor - drama: 6:20

    Law and Order:
    Police are investigating a body discovered in Tauranga 5:37

    Politics:
    Air New Zealand short-haul crew have withdrawn their strike notice for before Christmas 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Best female actor - musical or comedy: 21:50

    Entertainment:
    Best male actor - musical or comedy: 21:20

    Environment:
    Crews on the ground and in the air are fighting to put out a vegetation fire in rural Whanganui 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Best supporting female actor: 20:50

    Entertainment:
    Best supporting male actor: 20:20

    Law and Order:
    Two students killed, nine injured in shooting at Brown University — as it happened 20:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd