1:35 AM BST The All Blacks are hopeful Brodie Retallick will be available for Rugby World Cup selection after the powerhouse forward suffered a dislocated shoulder during their Test draw with South Africa. Veteran lock Retallick left the field in pain in the 60th minute of Saturday’s 16-16 Rugby Championship stalemate in Wellington after being

11:05 PM BST David Pocock will push his case for a return in Perth’s Bledisloe Cup opener as Michael Cheika flirts with the idea of further changes to face New Zealand in a fortnight. The world-class flanker has been sidelined by a calf injury since March but ran strongly on Friday and is a chance

1:14 PM BST All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has expressed his disappointment at the amount of errors his side have committed in their Rugby Championship matches but is confident they will be back to their best when they get to the World Cup in Japan. Hansen’s side drew 16-16 with South Africa at Westpac Stadium

12:24 AM BST Andy Withers Close ESPN Senior Editor Andy loves all sport, in particular football, rugby and horse racing. He supported Leicester City through the bad days, and played rugby without being able to keep Tigers, England and Lions legend Martin Johnson out of the first XV. Brittany Mitchell Close ESPN Assistant Editor Brittany

2:24 AM BST Michael Cheika is happy to keep shuffling his cards ahead of September’s Rugby World Cup, admitting he would’ve liked to have made even more than five changes to the Wallabies’ starting side to play Argentina on Saturday. The Brisbane Test will be an audition of sorts for five-eighth Christian Leali’ifano and utility

12:48 AM BST Steve Hansen has been pondering playing Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett together for ‘quite a while’, the All Blacks coach said on Thursday, and Saturday’s Test against South Africa was just the right time to give it a go. Hansen sprung a surprise when he named his team for the Rugby Championship

11:07 AM BST Wasps flanker Brad Shields has been withdrawn from England’s training camp in Italy due to a ligament injury in his foot and will be replaced by Harlequins’ Alex Dombrandt. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) confirmed via Twitter on Thursday that Shields, who sustained the injury during England’s 12-day heat camp in Treviso,

8:07 AM BST ESPN staff Experienced No 8 Duane Vermeulen will captain South Africa against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday, with head coach Rassie Erasmus making 12 changes to the starting side that defeated Australia having sent a group of players to New Zealand last Thursday, in advance of the remainder of the tour

6:18 AM BST The Wallabies have a discipline problem. That’s probably not breaking news for even casual rugby supporters of the past couple of years, nor is the sound of Michael Cheika complaining about a decision — or series of decisions — following a defeat unfamiliar, either. But as the countdown to Rugby World Cup

11:42 PM BST All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has poured lukewarm water on the notion their Test against South Africa is a significant pointer to the teams’ Rugby World Cup group stage blockbuster. The Rugby Championship Test in Wellington on Saturday is the only meeting of the old rivals ahead of their clash in Yokohama