Almaghribtoday - Tag

All Blacks

Despite Lions draw, All Blacks maintain 'gap'

Wellington - Al Maghrib Today

New Zealand, led magnificently by playmaker Beauden Barrett, continue to lead the pack in their bid for an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup, although they were held to a drawn series by the British and Irish Lions. In the highlight of the rugby calendar for 2017, Steve Hansen's All Blacks fought out an epic 1-1 draw with the Lions, coached by Wales'Read more

All Blacks skipper Read faces back surgery

Wellington - Al Maghrib Today

All Blacks captain Kieran Read will miss the start of next year's Super Rugby season as he undergoes surgery to fix a back problem, the Canterbury Crusaders said Wednesday. The reigning Super Rugby champions said Read would have an operation Saturday on a prolapsed disc, which normally requires four months' recovery. The injury dogged Read during the All Blacks' recentRead more

Former All Black McAlister out

Clermont-Ferrand - Al Maghrib Today

Fly-half Luke McAlister faces two months on the sidelines with a fractured hand, further plunging Clermont into a half-back injury crisis less than a week away from their crunch Champions Cup clash with Saracens. Former New Zealand international McAlister only joined Clermont on loan from Toulon less than two weeks ago to help cover an injury crisis that has deprivedRead more

Steelers tip All Blacks great Carter to be big in Japan

Tokyo - Al Maghrib Today

All Blacks legend Dan Carter will be an instant hit in Japan after joining Top League club Kobelco Steelers next summer, a senior team official said Monday. The 35-year-old double World Cup winner will leave French Top 14 side Racing 92 at the end of the season and Kobe officials already have high hopes, despite Carter's recent injury woes. "HeRead more

Coetzee delighted with Springboks 'character'

Paris - Al Maghrib Today

South Africa coach Allister Coetzee paid tribute to the character of his "unbelievable" players after they hit back from last week's record defeat to Ireland to beat France in Paris. The Springboks have had a rollercoaster year with an all-time record 57-0 defeat to New Zealand in September before their worst reverse against Ireland, 38-3 a week ago. But theyRead more

History against All Blacks' Williams and Scotland

Edinburgh - Al Maghrib Today

Sonny Bill Williams confesses to being unaware that the All Blacks have never lost to Scotland but insists the back-to-back world champions are "on edge" as they prepare for a Test that falls on the 112th anniversary of the first match between the countries. Since the 'Original' All Blacks beat Scotland 12-7 on a skating rink of a pitch atRead more

South Africa eyes 2023 Rugby World Cup

London - Al Maghrib Today

The fog of war that has afflicted the race to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup will lift on Wednesday and is expected to reveal South Africa as outright victor to stage the quadrennial showpiece. Two weeks ago the Rugby World Cup board released a report placing South Africa first across a range of criteria on which the candidates were assessed, ranging from stadiumsRead more

Slim chance of beating All Blacks, says France's Huget

Marcoussis - Al Maghrib Today

France wing Yoann Huget on Tuesday rated his side's chances of upsetting the world champion All Blacks at just "10 percent" ahead of Saturday's showdown in Paris. New Zealand kicked off their tour of Europe with a 31-22 victory over the Barbarians at Twickenham last weekend, while France are playing their first Test since a 3-0 whitewash in South AfricaRead more

All Blacks coach Hansen questions referee's 'focus'

Twickenham - Al Maghrib Today

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen suggested referee Nigel Owens had not been as "focused" as he would have been for a Test match after the world champions launched their tour of Europe with a 31-22 win over the Barbarians at Twickenham on Saturday. Hansen deliberately fielded an unfamiliar-looking All Blacks team, with fly-half Beauden Barrett captaining the side in placeRead more

All Blacks' Smith escapes with warning

Wellington - Al Maghrib Today

All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith has escaped with a formal warning for "inconsistencies" in his claims about what happened during his highly publicised airport toilet tryst, New Zealand Rugby bosses said Saturday. It is the second warning Smith has received since he was caught emerging with a woman from a toilet cubicle at a busy Christchurch airport as the AllRead more