As tensions surface in the usually trouble-free waters of New Zealand rugby, the Wallabies are driving hard for closer engagement with the Australian Super Rugby sides.

Japan could play host to a Bledisloe Cup decider after the NZ Rugby Union announced they would take the third Test there this year.

All Blacks five-eighth Lima Sopoaga has confirmed he is leaving New Zealand to play rugby in the UK at the end of the year.

Wayne Smith noticed that something wasn't right during the Lions series. But he hid his diagnosis from the All Blacks.

Eddie Jones became the first England head coach since Sir Clive Woodward in 2003 to be named World Rugby coach of the year at a ceremony in Monte Carlo last night (Sunday) where Sir Clive made the presentation - and immediately dedicated the award to his players.

Former New Zealand five-eighth Dan Carter will leave Racing 92 at the end of the season to join Japanese side Kobelco Steelers, he told French sports daily L'Equipe.

The All Blacks have limped across the finish line of a taxing season, seeing off a belligerent Wales 33-18 in Cardiff.

Not the best weekend for New Zealand's finest on the footy fields. But at least the All Blacks avoided the ignominy of an embarrassing defeat at Murrayfield.

​With just one paragraph Warren Gatland has lit the fuse on what could be an incendiary final week of the All Blacks' spring tour.

The All Blacks have staved off a rugged midweek examination from a French selection and held on to win 28-23 in Lyon.

​At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Steve Hansen says his hot and cold All Blacks have learned another important lesson in Paris.

• COMMENT

​Australia and the All Blacks have made a smart move by resting some big names this spring.

Robbie Deans says the All Blacks have a fragility about them that opponents could exploit.

All Blacks scrumhalf Aaron Smith has received a formal written warning from New Zealand Rugby after an investigation into evidence he gave an earlier inquiry into his tryst with a woman in a disabled toilet at Christchurch Airport.

Recurring injuries problems are expected to persuade Dan Carter to end his French club rugby career as he ponders extending his contract with glamour Paris outfit Racing 92.

• Live

It's a long way from 54-34 in the first game of the Rugby Championship.

The All Blacks will unleash an "angry" Ardie Savea in the second half of Saturday's third Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies, with a late injury forcing coach Steve Hansen into a minor reshuffle.

Deciding not to risk Beauden Barrett's welfare has resulted in the door to the All Blacks No 10 position being flung wide open for Lima Sopoaga.

Warren Gatland has conceded that flanker Sean O'Brien had a point when criticising the British and Irish Lions' coaching staff for "over-training" the players in the weeks before the first and third All Blacks tests.