The first Test between the Black Caps and the West Indies has ended in a draw, after the last day was abandoned due to rain. It's the second day out of the five that has been abandoned due to poor weather, which raises the question - why would you play the first Test of the summer (and we use the word summer tentatively...) in Dunedin, not known for it's weather at the best of times? Sure, the University Oval is a great cricketing ground despite it's small size, but they should have held off and given Dunedin one of the Tests later in the summer, when they would be more likely to get five good days in. Not to mention that most of the students would be back by February, and that would mean a packed ground.

Aside from the weather, the cricket played has produced some positive aspects, and a couple of not so positive aspects. Firstly, the switching of Daniel Flynn and Jessie Ryder has been a great success, with both batsmen scoring plenty of runs in the first innings. John Bracewell must be wondering why he persisted with Flynn down the order, when he is clearly a better player coming in at three - and the same can be said of Ryder moving from three to five, where he too looks a lot more comfortable.

Tim Mckintosh looked OK, but didn't appear to offer any more than Arron Redmond would have opening the batting. Time will tell whether or not he can make a career for himself opening for the Black Caps. His opening partner, on the other hand, is on the fast track to joining the scrap heap. Jaime How has once again failed to score any runs, which has called his position in the side once again to question. We know he has the talent, but he'll need to get himself out of his slump very quickly.

The bowling was average at best, and was lacking someone who could put real pressure on the West Indian batsmen - aside from Daniel Vettori, of course, who was his usual impressive self. We are definitely missing someone with out-and-out pace like Shane Bond, and it's starting to show. Mark Gillespie failed to make the most of his opportunity (once again...), and unless he pulls out a blinder in Napier he will surely find himself back on the outer. He does have some pace, but fails to find consistency with his line and length, causing him to go for plenty of runs. The only thing in his favour is his batting ability, which while not outstanding is a hundred times better than Chris Martin's. Then again, he's not in the side to bat - he's there to take wickets.

The West Indies showed that they're not here to play games. They batted well, and gave some of our batsmen a bit of a working over with the ball, proving they are a dangerous side for anyone who takes them lightly. If the next Test can go the full five days, they are a real chance of beating the Black Caps.

The Black Caps already look a better unit with Andy Moles as coach, though, and while there are a few things to work on, we're confident Moles can get them back on the right track.

The next Test starts in Napier on Friday.

The New Zealand rugby community has been hit by the sudden death of former All Black prop, John Drake, at his home in Mt Maunganui.

Drake, age 49, played in the 1987 World Cup final where the All Blacks defeated the French to claim the first ever rugby World Cup. Although he only played eight Tests for the All Blacks, he is regarded as being one of New Zealand's finest props.

Drake has also become one of Sky Sports top rugby commentators alongside Grant Nisbett and Tony Jonston, and most recently commentated the Bledisloe Cup Test in Hong Kong. His commentating style was like no other, and he never shied away from saying what was on his mind - no matter how biased or unpatriotic it seemed. He certainly said things as he saw them, something which not all commentators seem willing to do.

He will certainly be remembered as one of the real characters of New Zealand rugby on and off the field.

The cause of his sudden death are not yet known - no doubt more news will emerge in the coming days.

Drake leaves behind his wife and three daughters.

We here at the Attic send our condolences to his family and friends at this terrible time.

Rumours are starting to fly that former All Black Carl Hayman is wanting to return to New Zealand to play his rugby, after departing for Newcastle at the end of last year.

Hayman has been out of action in the English Premiership for the last month due to injury, and has been spending his time here in New Zealand - and it seems he's been bitten by the New Zealand bug, and a return down under may not be too far away.

At this stage it's all rumours, so no one really knows where he plans to play over the next year or two. But if he is indeed planning to return to New Zealand it's great news for the All Blacks, and New Zealand rugby in general.

Hayman is without doubt the best prop in the game at the moment, and while the All Blacks have been able to continue their dominance in the front row, having a guy like Hayman available would be an added bonus for Henry's team. Front rowers around the world will be hoping he stays put in Newcastle, because there wouldn't be many who would want to face up against Hayman, Hore and Woodcock. New Zealand fans, on the other hand, will be praying the rumours turn into a reality.

Unfortunately for Otago fans (that's you, Israel) Hayman is reportedly interested in making a switch to Taranaki (obviously due to his fondness for farming), which of course would make him available for the Hurricanes.

Whether or not he moves to Taranaki or Otago the most important thing is that he does come home, because the All Blacks are a far better team with guys like Hayman involved.

The NRL could be in line to lose another big name to rugby after it was uncovered that Tigers and Kiwis star, Benji Marshall, is eyeing up a code switch in the near future.

This follows the recent departure of Mark Gasnier and Sonny Bill Williams, both of whom are now playing rugby in Europe.

Benji has expressed interest in playing rugby in Japan during the NRL off season, which would see him remain in the NRL - but of course this is all dependent on whether his club will give him permission to take up rugby during the off season. With Benji's tendency to need surgery during his time off, it's unlikely any club would be happy about having their star player risk injury playing rugby.

The danger here is that if his club, presently the Tigers, doesn't allow him the chance to play in Japan, he may look to take up a permanent rugby contract in Europe - which would mean he would be lost to the game for good, and this would not be good for the NRL.

Benji has already won a Premiership with the Tigers in 2005, and of course was a part of that Kiwis team that won the World Cup, so in all honesty there's not a whole lot left for Benji to accomplish in the game. But we still feel he has a lot to offer the game in the NRL, and it would be a real shame to see him go.

Unfortunately, we feel he'll end up leaving the game to take up the big dollars in European rugby, because we don't see any club in the NRL wanting to risk such a valuable asset by allowing him to play union in Japan.

Although, if any club was willing to take that risk it could be a good way of getting the services of one of the most exciting players in the game as of 2010, when his Tigers contract expires...

The new Black Caps coach, Andy Moles, has already started making changes to his side in preparation for the upcoming series against the West Indies, starting in Dunedin this Thursday.

The biggest change sees opening batsman Aaron Redmond dropped for Tim Mcintosh, who has been in good form over the past few seasons for Auckland. Mcintosh has already had a taste against the West Indies in the three day warm-up game for Auckland, where he scored 78 against the visitors.

Redmond has failed to set the cricketing world alight, and will join the likes of Craig Cumming, Michael Papps and Matthew Bell, who have all tried and failed at the top of the order for the Black Caps.

The pressure will certainly be on Mcintosh to score plenty of runs this summer, or he could find himself joining the ever growing pile of failed Black Caps openers.

The other changes come in the bowling department, where Mark Gillespie and James Franklin will return to the squad. Their selection comes at the expense of Tim Southee and Chris Martin. Southee can feel a little hard done by, but we're sure we haven't seen the last of him - especially when you consider the amount of time Gillespie has been given a chance and failed.

Martin, who for a while now has been considered our best bowler (at least since Shane Bond left) only has himself to blame for his axing. While he isn't in the team for his batting, the fact is that he is a liability when he comes out to bat - and it means that the Black Caps are effectively 1 down before they even walk out there. He can't be trusted to score a single, let-a-lone hit a boundary off the last over if required - and until he learns how to hold a bat properly, it's unlikely he'll be selected any time soon.

Come on, Martin - it's really not that hard to at least swing the bat.

Without having to jump in the air.

At yorkers.

The last change sees the return of Jacob Oram, who was sorely missed against the Aussies. Oram injured his back in the Tour of Bangladesh, and was forced to miss the two Tests in Australia. But he has been back playing for Central Districts, and more importantly he has been bowling plenty of overs, which is a good sign.

The West Indies won't be easy, and it's going to be interesting to watch Chris Gayle send the ball over the boundary at the University Oval in Dunedin, which has possibly the smallest boundaries in Test cricket. They will certainly be entertaining to watch, and with the likes of Sarwan and Chanderpaul in their lineup, the Black Caps will have to be on top of their game to come away with a win.

Let's just hope the weather in Dunedin can clear up, and we can get five days in without rain.

Grant Rovelli has announced his departure from the Warriors, and has signed up with the North Queensland Cowboys for the next two years. The announcement follows the return of Stacy Jones to the Warriors, who looks set to take the halfback spot - providing he can make it through pre-season training.

Rovelli failed to set the world alight in 2008, and spent most of his time playing in the lower grades while trying to regain his form. With Nathan Fien and Michael Witt proving to be a worthy combination in the halves, Rovelli's only game time came off the bench, and those games were few and far between.

With the return of Jones, and the signing of Joel Moon and Liam Foran for 2009, it's no wonder Rovelli has decided to ply his trade elsewhere - although it's hard to see him playing at halfback for the Cowboys when you consider the firm grasp that Jonathan Thurston has on the position in Townsville.

Rovelli would be best to try and develop into a standoff where he could take over from Travis Burns, who has a knack for getting suspended. It would be a great learning curve for Rovelli playing along side Thurston.

The Cowboys' 2008 season was one they would want to forget, and it won't hurt them to bolster their halves, especially for when Thruston is off playing rep footy. Rovelli will be a fine asset for them over the next two years.

The Warriors have plenty of stock in the halves department, and will be able to move on from Rovelli quickly. Not hard, when you consider his form over the past twelve months - although in saying that he has provided plenty of great moments over the past few seasons, especially last year when he was without a doubt in his best form.

Rovelli will stay on in New Zealand for a few more weeks, as he and his wife await the arrival of their baby, before heading off to North Queensland.

The All Blacks will face their old World Cup nemesis, France, in pool play at the 2011 World Cup held here in New Zealand. It's no secret that the All Blacks don't have the best track record against France at the World Cup (although lets not forget we beat them in the final in 1987), but All Blacks fans can take comfort in the fact that the top two placed sides in each Pool will advance. So, even if we succumb to the French again, we're unlikely to lose to the Tongans, or one of the other two minnows yet to be named.

England, Argentina and Scotland make up the heavyweights in Pool B, and the two winners from this group will face either the All Blacks or France, depending on results. Based on last year's World Cup, Argentina must be considered the top dog in Pool B, especially when you consider England's poor form - although there's still a long way to go before 2011, so we might just be getting ahead of ourselves.

Australia will face Ireland and Italy in Pool C, while the Springboks will look to defend the 2007 title against Wales and Fiji in Pool D. The rest of the nations are yet to sort themselves out, but at this stage it looks like Canada and Japan will join Pool A, Romania and a play-off winner (most likely Portugal) in Pool B, Georgia and the USA in Pool C, and Samoa and Namibia in Pool D - these predictions are based on the teams playing in the 2007 World Cup, though, so the actual teams may vary.

The All Blacks may be known for choking at World Cups, but this time we'll be on home soil where we have a brilliant record - only losing to South Africa in Dunedin after an unbeaten record spanning the last few years.

Let's just say, we're already quietly optimistic...

It's been a fantastic year for the All Blacks, as they have looked to erase the memories of last years early exit from the World Cup.

And erase them they have.

Out of the fifteen games they've played (14 Tests and the game against Munster) they've won thirteen, which is an impressive result for a team that many people thought would struggle after Graham Henry was re-appointed as coach.

Henry, along with Steve Hanson and Wayne Smith, has moulded this All Blacks side into a very well drilled unit, and they've built up a squad capable of going through to the 2011 World Cup. Henry may have had his doubters, but no one can argue with the results he's helped produce on the field. The best thing about the way he's run this team is that he's abandoned his rotation policy, which was undoubtedly one of the main causes for the poor showing at the World Cup. Players are benefiting from regular game time, rather than being switched out every other week. We want to congratulate Henry, Smith and Hanson on their efforts this year - and it's nice to see that Smith has decided to stay on with the All Blacks, instead of taking the Ospreys job.

The only concern with this team is the lack of a genuine back-up for Richie McCaw and Dan Carter. Adam Thomson and Scott Waldrom are the two contenders as McCaw's understudy, but still have a long way to go before they're close to his level. They need more game time at the highest level, but it's not that easy to take McCaw off when he's such a vital part of the team. Stephen Donald has shown glimpses of brilliance, but was shown up for his lack of experience in the game against Munster. He too needs more time, but we feel he can get better over the next year.

Other than that, we feel the All Blacks are looking unstoppable right now - and that should be a worrying sign for all opposition.

Best Performance: vs Australia, Auckland 02/08/08: Only a week earlier they had put in their worst performance of the year, and many people thought the Wallabies would be too good in this Test. But the All Blacks were absolutely outstanding, and never looked like letting Australia into the game. Their kicking was spot on, and they attacked the Wallabies' lineouts causing many turnovers. The final score was 39-10, and most importantly it was the moment the All Blacks turned the corner and began to look unbeatable.

Worst Performance: vs Australia, Sydney 26/07/08: This was a shocking effort by the boys, who had gone down to the Springboks the week before. Australia weren't necessarily brilliant - rather, the All Blacks were bad, and thoroughly deserved to lose this one. Passes weren't sticking, and there were far too many turnovers - which the Wallabies were able to capitalise on. Not a game we remember fondly...

Newcomer of the Year: Richard Kahui: Many were surprised by his selection at the beginning of the year, but after his first Test against England there weren't many doubting him. He has shown he has the strength and speed to play at the highest level, and has put a lot of pressure on Conrad Smith for the center position. He is such a versatile player, and so long as he can remain injury free we expect to see a lot more of Kahui in the years to come.

Comeback of the Year: Ma'a Nonu: This was a hard one to choose when you consider the number of players who have fought their way back into the team. But Nonu has proven that he belongs in the All Blacks, and has cemented his spot at second-five. Many criticised him for being one dimensional, but this year he has developed his game to where he passes a lot more - which has made him a far tougher player than he was when he just ran it all the time. He may not be the greatest kicker, but his running game makes up for that by the bucket load. We have to give honourable mentions to Piri Weepu, Jerome Kaino and Isaia Toeava, all of whom have returned to the form we knew they were capable of.

Player of the Year: Mils Muliana: Another tough call, and we could quite easily have gone with McCaw or Carter - but we think this has been a standout year for Muliaina. He has developed his running game, and has shown many times throughout the year that he is a real handful on attack. He was as solid as a rock on defence, and very reliable at fullback under the high ball. Muliaina often gets overlooked for the likes of Carter and McCaw, but we certainly wouldn't be as good if he wasn't there. We really think he has been the standout of the All Blacks in 2008.

Now the countdown can begin until the 2009 All Black season begins - only 195 days to go.

The All Blacks have capped of their Grand Slam Tour in style, beating England 32-6 in what was another game of two different halves. The win gives them their third Grand Slam title, and ends the year in the best possible fashion.

England came out strong, just as Scotland, Ireland and Wales did, and just like those three England kept in the hunt in what was a first half of penalties. England's only downfall was their discipline, which proved costly - four players spent time in the sin bin during the game. That's a total of forty minutes without a player on the field - and at one point they were down to thirteen men. They were constantly infringing at the ruck, which left referee Alain Rolland with little option but to go to the yellow card.

The first half was dominated by penalties, and the game never really got into third gear - but with the All Black's recent efforts in the second half, you just got the feeling they would blow England off the park in that part of the game. And that's exactly what they did, running in three impressive trys, and most importantly keeping England from crossing the line.

The only consolation for England is that they were the only team to score against the All Blacks in the second fourty - although it was only one measly penalty.

The All Blacks looked as sharp as they have all year, and the second try to Mils Muliaina was something truly special. Dan Carter put in a little kick across the field, straight into the arms of Muliaina who ran away to score his second of the night. Ma'a Nonu scored the last try, which really caps off a fantastic year for him - he's fought back well to secure his spot in the team, after struggling to cement his place in recent years.

Aside from Carter's shots at goal, which were unusually bad, this was the best possible finish to the year. The All Blacks have won thirteen out of their fifteen games, and only dropped Tests to South Africa and Australia.

Australia, on the other hand, have not finished in the same impressive style, going down 21-18 to Wales - who managed to hold off a late run by the Wallabies. After all the talk about how Robbie Deans was going to be the saviour of Australian rugby, it's going to be interesting to see how they react to their year under Deans - which has been unspectacular, to say the least.

We said earlier in the year that it would take some time for Deans to start improving the Wallabies given their lack of depth in key positions, but the Australians have never been the most patient bunch when it comes to unsuccessful teams - and we can't wait to see what transpires over the next few months. We think he'll be safe for now, but he'll have to start showing some forward momentum next year or Deans may find himself on the growing pile of scraped Aussie coaches.

It's unfortunate that this is the end of the rugby year for us here in New Zealand - although it's not too long a wait for the Super 14 to begin next February. Stay tuned for our review of the 'year that was' for New Zealand rugby in the days to come.

For now, though, we can bask in the success of the All Blacks - and turn on the cricket.

Fantastic news for New Zealand cricket fans, as a new coach has been named to replace the departing John Bracewell. Northern Districts coach, Andy Moles, will replace Bracewell after the final Test in Adelaide in a few days time. This is welcome news for all those who felt Bracewell should have gone a long time ago - and yes, we are certainly in that group.

Bracewell was originally scheduled to leave at the end of the New Zealand Summer, but has decided it would be best to leave after the two-Test series against the Aussies - which we think is the best decision Bracewell has made in his time as coach.

The Black Caps have failed to make any improvements in their game under Bracewell, and while we still rank in the top 4 in One Day cricket, we haven't made a serious attempt at challenging for that top spot. As for Tests, we seem to have gotten worse as time has gone on - and our batting can only be described as atrocious.

Andy Moles was an opening batsman, and hopefully he can come in and teach our top order a thing or two about staying at the crease. He has plenty of potential to work with, but we'll just have to wait and see if he can get the best out of them.

The one thing he has said he will do is make the players accountable for their performances, which is something Bracewell has never done. Just think back to how long Hamish Marshall was kept in the team, despite being in the worst form of his life. If the players aren't performing, then they need to face the consequences. We've said it a million times before - there is potential by the bucket loads, but for some reason the players just aren't producing the goods.

Barrack Obama said it best - "It's time for a change". And, while he probably wasn't talking about the Black Caps (we don't think), the saying fits nicely.

Moles has a hard task ahead of him, but if he's given the right support fro New Zealand Cricket and, most importantly, the players themselves, we don't see any reason why he can't lift the Black Caps out of the mediocre, and into one of the best teams in the world.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

The All Blacks proved too strong in the second half, as they defeated the Welsh 29-9 at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday. It's the fifth game of the end of year tour that the All Blacks have gone without having any points scored against them in the second fourty, which is an outstanding effort when you consider the caliber of teams they've faced.

Wales came out strong, much the same as Ireland did, but just couldn't match the All Black's intensity in the second half. They looked to attack early on, and led 9-6 at half time through the boot of Stephen Jones, but once the second half began they looked out of their depth. Their scrum was terrible throughout the game, as Tony Woodcock dominated Adam Jones up front, and without quality ball in the second fourty they never got a chance to get their wingers involved - although when they did they got shut down by the All Black's impressive defence.

The All Blacks completely dominated the second half, and played the game at a high tempo, which ground down the Welsh defence. Ma'a Nonu scored the first try in the second half after a good team drive forward, and some good attacking footy from the backs. Jerome Kaino scored right on full time, after being denied earlier in the game, pushing the All Blacks out to a twenty point win.

The All Blacks have been very good at nullifying the passion these teams bring in the first half, and then shutting them down completely late in the game. It would be good to see them score a few more points in the first half of their games, but it does illustrate the level of intensity that's brought to these Tests early on.

England will be the last stop on their Grand Slam Tour, and the way England has been playing it should be a walk in the park for the All Blacks - although England always save their best for these end of year tour clashes.

The All Blacks will be looking to stamp their authority on this game, and finish the year on a high. And, with rumours spreading that Wayne Smith will be leaving to coach the Welsh club, Ospreys, a solid win will be a good send off for him.

This will be the last game of rugby for the year - here's hoping it's an exciting end to whats been an outstanding year of rugby action.

Could there have been a better way to end the rugby league year?

The Kiwis shocking everyone (including us, to be fair...), by beating the Kangaroos 34-20 in the rugby league World Cup Final. This was a game that Australia was supposed to have virtually wrapped up going into the final, and after already beating the Kiwis 30-6 in the first round of matches, it was justified that they were expected to walk away with the Cup. But the Kiwis had other ideas, and they executed the perfect game plan for beating the Aussies.

Right from the Haka you just knew this one wasn't going to be a walkover for the Aussies - the Kiwis laid down the challenge, as the Aussies marched forward to face their opponents face to face. It was without a doubt one of the best Haka's we've seen in a long time.

The Kiwis kept themselves in the game despite the Kangaroos taking an early 10-nil lead, but the crucial moment was when Darren Lockyer dropped the ball over the line, giving the Kiwis a life - if he had scored the Aussies would have had a 16-nil lead, and they would most likely would have gone on to thrash the Kiwis. The Kiwi's then managed to scored through Jeremy Smith, and from that moment on they knew they were in with a chance.

They did all the important things well, like shutting down Thurston and Lockyer, and despite some poor errors at times they kept fighting.

Going into the second half the Kiwis had to dig deep, as they have a habit of slipping in the last fourty. But this time they maintained their composure, while the Aussies were the ones who started to get the wobbles. It started when Billy Slater threw the ball infield as he was about to go out, only to have it land in the arms of Benji Marshall who ran away for a try. There was then another crucial moment when Lance Hohia was awarded a penalty try, after Joel Monaghan took him out as he went for the ball. The momentum had swung the way of the Kiwis - but you could never count out the Kangaroos, who have a habit of scoring late in the game to spoil the party.

When Adam Blair scored late in the game, though, we knew we had won - especially when Marshall slotted the conversion. It was the greatest feeling possible, and for us it will go down as the best moment in New Zealand sport that we've personally watched. We always talk about the 2005 Tri Nations final as being great, but this surpasses that by a long way. Not until the All Blacks win another World Cup (or, even less likely, the Black Caps win one), will this feeling be repeated.

The tournament has been a huge success, and we feel it is worthy of being run every four years. Based on the supporter turn out, we don't think the rugby league governing body would disagree.

It's been a fantastic year of rugby league, and although we didn't get all the results we'd have liked, all in all it's been very entertaining - and the Kiwis win caps it off for us in the best possible way.

Now all we have to do is wait for the 2009 season to begin, which will be the year of the Warrior.

You heard it here first.

Graham Henry has once again selected a full strength side for the Grand Slam tour, and this time the Welsh will feel the full force of the All Blacks. The only change from the side that played Ireland last weekend comes at center, where Richard Kahui replaces the injured Conrad Smith. Smith has been suffering from a groin injury for some time now, and will not be risked against Wales.

Kahui has been in outstanding form when given his opportunity's in the black jersey, so the All Blacks won't lose much with Kahui at 13. Many people doubted his selection at the beginning of the year, but the more Kahui plays the better he seems to get.

The only other selection concern comes from Tony Woodcock, who has been bracketed with John Afoa and Neemia Tialata, who could also miss the game due to illness. If Woodcock gets suspended, Afoa will move into the starting lineup, meaning either Ben Franks or Jaime Mackintosh will get a chance on the bench. There could be a possibility that both will get game time if Tialata succumbs to his illness before kickoff.

Both newcomers have a lot to learn at the highest level, but there's no better place to learn than being thrown into the lions den.

Based on the evidence we don't think Woodcock should be suspended (for what looks like a little push to the face rather than a punch), but then again we won't be surprised if the English board comes down hard on him.

Joe Rokocoko is certainly making up for lost time as he plays his third game in seven days, backing up from the clash with Munster on Wednesday. He is back to his best form, and deserves to be considered the best winger in the country at the moment. He makes a point of going hunting for work, and when he gets the ball in hand he poses a real threat for the opposition. Based on the Test against Ireland he also seems to be motivating his cousin, Sivivatu, to start finding the form we know he's capable of - which can't be a bad thing, if both of them are in good form.

Piri Weepu, Corey Flynn and Stephen Donald will also back up from Wednesday, but will start off the bench, while Kieran Read also retains his spot on the bench, alongside Isaia Toeava.

Like the game against Ireland, the All Blacks should be too strong for the Welsh - who were unimpressive against the Canadians last week. We expect them to come out fired up for the first twenty minutes, only to fade as the game goes on. This All Blacks side is one of the best we've seen for a while now, and are well on their way to securing another Grand Slam victory.

Here's the full team:

Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Sitvini Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata/John Afoa, Kevin Mealamu, Tony Woodcock/John Afoa/Neemia Tialata.

Reserves: Corey Flynn, Anthony Boric, Kieran Read, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava (one to be added).

It was a lucky escape for the All Blacks, as a try by Joe Rokocoko in the 75th minute gave them a narrow 18-16 lead - one which they would manage to hold on to until full-time.

Munster scored a try just before half-time to give them a 16-10 lead going into the break, and although they didn't score in the second half, they held on to their lead for most of the second fourty - only to watch Rokocoko cross the line to give the All Blacks the lead in the dying stages. Despite their loss, they can hold their heads up very high, and be proud of the performance they put in against the best in the world.

Munster were very strong around the ruck, and although the ref let them get away with a lot of infringements, they put a lot of pressure on Piri Weepu and the All Black forwards - who were unable to get quality ball to the backs for much of the game. When the backs did get the ball they played very laterally, and failed to get any real forward momentum. And, when they did, the Munster forwards slowed the ball down at the ruck, which put the All Blacks on the back foot.

To their credit, though, the All Black forwards kept trying, and eventually they started to wear down the Munster pack, which led to the final try. This was a game for some of the new boys to test their skills, and everyone stood up proving the decision to take such a large squad was the right move.

Liam Messam was very strong on attack, while Scott Waldrom showed his ability to get to the breakdown quickly and put pressure on the opposition. Messam may have down enough to warrant selection in one of the last two Tests...

Ben Franks looked strong at scrum time, and should be happy with his first performance in the black jersey. With Tony Woodcock likely to miss the Test against Wales, either due to injury or suspension, either Franks or Mackintosh will have to fill the void on the bench - and based on today's efforts, Franks might have the edge.

The other player who looked sharp when he came on was Alby Mathewson, who created several gaps, and came very close to setting up another try late in the game. It's unlikely we'll see him play again, but he's done himself no harm in putting pressure on Andy Ellis.

This game was something truely special, especially for the people of Munster, who are obviously very passionate about their team. They were deafening in their support, except when it came to shots at goal, when they fell deathly silent (you could hear people shushing the noisy fans) - and it seemed to put Stephen Donald off, as he missed a couple of simple kicks.

Donald started off the game in good fashion, but we felt that as the game went on (especially in the second half) he held the ball a bit much, and put in a couple of useless chip kicks - which turned the ball over to Munster. This game time is important for Donald, especially as he is the backup for Dan Carter, but he does still have a bit to learn at this level.

The IRB should take note of this game, because it proves that there should be more midweek games for touring teams. The crowds love it, and it gives teams a chance to expand their squads. It would be great to go back to the days when there were midweek games on every tour...

The All Blacks can heave a sigh of relief, and now start focusing on the Test against Wales in a few days time. Most likely Graham Henry will go back to a full strength team, which should have no trouble against the Welsh.

This week could be unpleasant for two New Zealand teams, as they steer down the barrel of two dangerous Australian sides - the Kangaroos, and the Aussie cricket team. While there shouldn't have be any worries for the All Blacks against Wales this weekend, the same can't be said for the Kiwis and the Black Caps, who by all accounts should be no trouble for their Aussie counterparts.

The Kiwis showed glimpses of brilliance against the English league side on their way to reaching the World Cup Final, but the Kangaroos have looked unstoppable in their four games thus far, including comfortably beating the Kiwis in week one. The Kangaroos have only had 16 points scored against them in four games, which is an outstanding achievement when you consider they've faced the Kiwis and England - the two sides who were supposed to be their biggest challenge. They would have to turn in a very terrible performance for the Kiwis to have any chance of beating them, and that's very unlikely at this stage.

The only thing in the Kiwis favour is that they've been involved in two very physical clashes with England over the last two weeks, which should have them prepared for a tough battle with the Aussies. The Aussies, on the other hand, haven't had anything even close to a challenge thus far, and if the Kiwis can manage to step up, the Kangaroos may not be as prepared for a close encounter. It's hard to see this happening though, to be fair...

These are the two best sides at this World Cup, and of all the teams represented the Kiwis probably have what it takes to beat the Aussies - but it's going to take an outstanding performance from every player on the field, because you know the Kangaroos will be ready to go. It's hard for us to say this, but we honestly believe the Kangaroos will run away with this one, and should be able to put 30 points on the Kiwis. But, you just never know - we could have another 2005 Tri Nations Final on our hands.

One can only hope.

The other big trans-Tasman clash sees the Black Caps face off against the Aussies, starting today in the first of two Tests. There's a lot of people out there who believe the Aussies are wounded after their disappointing efforts in India, and that the Black Caps have some hope of actually winning. Well, if there's one thing you should always be aware of it's a wounded Aussie - especially one like the Aussie cricket team.

It's hard to see the Aussies losing to the Black Caps, especially when you look at how they've played over the past month or so. They were below average in Bangladesh, and utterly abysmal against New South Wales in the build up to the first Test. If they play anything like that against Australia, they will be easily thrashed within three days. Like the Kiwis, the Black Caps will need all players to be at their best, and even then Australia should be too strong.

The Brisbane pitch looked like it was going to be bowler friendly, and the first day today proved that, with New Zealand bowling Australia out for just over 200. A great effort, but also a very dangerous sign for the Black Caps, as it's our batsmen who have been letting the side down recently. Brett Lee will be licking his lips at the prospect of finding some form against the Black caps batsmen in the morning.

The Black Caps need to go out and play with confidence, like they did today - and, most importantly, not let the occasion get the better of them. Otherwise, it's going to be a long trip for them. They saw how the Indians attacked the Aussie bowlers, and they need to do the exact same thing. Test matches are no longer the slow affairs that they use to be - if you can't score runs quickly, you're going to lose. The Black Caps need to move away from their current style of slow batting, and hopefully when we get a new coach we can start catching up with the rest of the cricketing world.

Until then, we predict a comfortable Australian victory in both Tests.

Oh well - at least we still have the All Blacks.

I spoke to a lot of people before the Test on Sunday morning (NZ time), and I was very surprised at how many people thought the All Blacks were in danger of losing to the Irish. So many people thought that this Irish side was going to be strong enough to out-play our strongest side, and that playing at the famous Croke Park in Dublin would give the Irish all the motivation they needed.

Well, I can honestly say that I was not surprised by what happened during the Test. The first half was always going to be tough, as they always are against the Irish. And if that penalty try had not been given, the scores would have been locked at three all - but I don't think anyone could argue that that wasn't the right call.

The All Blacks always save their best efforts against Ireland for the second half, and this game was no different. Joe Rokocoko set up Nonu for the first try after the break in what was a fantastic move, before Brad Thorn charged over for the second try.

It was inevitable that the All Blacks would push on in the second half, and the Irish would be left wondering what could have been. In all honesty, the All Blacks beat them without even getting out of cruise control - while the Irish never really looked like scoring against the solid defence of the All Blacks.

I like the Irish team, and think they have some really talented players, especially young Luke Fitzgerald - but I still feel they have a long way to go before they can beat the All Blacks. The problem is that they spend far too much time kicking the ball away, and when you're kicking to the likes of Muliaina and Rokocoko, even Sivivatu (who had one of his better games this year), you're always going to be on the back foot - and this Test was no different.

Ireland have the talent to run the ball a lot more, and would pose a greater threat if the did run it, but for some reason when they play the All Blacks they feel the need to kick the ball away - and unfortunately for them, they'll never win with that game plan.

And who ever believed that Ronan O'Gara is a class above Dan Carter? They only need to watch that Test to see the damage Carter can do when he runs the ball. It helps that Carter can tackle, too, while O'Gara is a definite weak point in the Irish defensive line. There are few who even come close to being in Carters league at the moment.

Brad Thorn and Ali Williams had outstanding performances (Williams was named Man of the Match, although I thought Thorn was the stronger of the two), and Ma'a Nonu continued to prove that he is the answer to New Zealand's second-five problem. Rokocoko, too, had a strong performance, and continued to go looking for work rather than staying out on the wing. That seemed to spark Sivivatu into action, as he made some of the strong runs that we've all been waiting for.

The next Test for the All Blacks is against Wales, who shouldn't pose too many issues for the All Blacks. It should be another case of too strong, too fit and too good for the Welsh boys to handle.

But, just before that we've got the game against Munster to look forward to, and it's no surprise that the side named has a few new players getting a run. Scott Waldrom, Jason Eaton and Ben Franks all get their first run of the tour, while Alby Mathewson and Hika Elliot will come off the bench. It's a relatively inexperienced side, but there's still plenty of talent there. Weepu will captain the side, which suggests he'll be rested for the Test against Wales.

Here's the side to play Munster:

Cory Jane, Hosea Gear, Anthony Tuitavake, Isaia Toeava, Joe Rokocoko, Stephen Donald, Piri Weepu (c), Liam Messam, Scott Waldrom, Adam Thomson, Jason Eaton, Ross Filipo, Ben Franks, Corey Flynn, Jaime Mackintosh.

Reserves: Hikawera Elliot, John Afoa, Brad Thorn, Kieran Read, Alby Mathewson, Richard Kahui, Mils Muliaina.

In the final of our Top 5 Cricket specials (although to be fair, the first three were Top 10's...), we're going to look at the five most entertaining wicket keepers/batsmen.

We decided to cut it back to five because, in all honesty, the words exciting and wicket keepers haven't always gone hand in hand. Only in the past decade have keepers emerged as more than just the guy who catches the ball - he is now relied on to score runs with the bat, and often in quick fashion.

Gone are the days when they we're kept in the side as a low order batsmen. Now, it's all about becoming an entertaining batsmen who also happens to keep wickets - and they don't come more entertaining than the five we're about to look at.

Here we go:

5. Ridley Jacobs (West Indies):
Tests: 65 games, 2577 runs, 28.31 average, 47.8 strike rate; 207 catches, 12 stumpings
ODIs: 147 games, 1865 runs, 23.31 average, 70.06 strike rate; 160 catches, 29 stumpings

Jacobs definitely rates as one of the most entertaining keepers that we've ever seen. Jacobs was a powerful striker of the ball, using his massive frame to hit the ball to all areas of the ground. You would think a man of his stature would be less effective with the gloves, but as his records show he was agile enough to take a fair few stumpings during his career. Jacobs was also involved during Lara's massive 400 runs world record - the two compiled a 282 run partnership as Lara went on to make history. Jacobs may not have scored as many runs as some of the others have, but we were certainly entertained by the way he went about it.


4. Mark Boucher (South Africa):
Tests: 111 games, 4372 runs, 29.94 average, 49.88 strike rate; 406 catches, 19 stumpings
ODIs: 272 games, 4329 runs, 28.86 average, 84.50 strike rate; 378 catches, 18 stumpings

Boucher is the world record holder for Test dismissals by a keeper, and second only to Gilchrist in the ODI standings. As far as wicket keepers go, he is definitely among the best - if not the best. He is also a very important part of South Africa's batting line up, coming in down the order where he can score runs at a very quick rate. He may not be as explosive with the bat as our top three players, but he is certainly one classy player - in both forms of the game.

3. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand):
Tests: 37 games, 1790 runs, 31.40 average, 64.29 strike rate; 104 catches, 9 stumpings
ODIs: 138 games, 2637 runs, 28.66 average, 90.24 strike rate; 155 catches, 13 stumpings

McCullum is fast becoming one of the most entertaining players in the game today. His no-nonsense attitude makes him a danger for any bowler, and he is proving that he can score runs anywhere in the batting lineup. His lack of a solid defensive game may cost him at times, but it's his attacking style that makes him worth watching. He also carries his aggression with him when he keeps, and it certainly keeps the opposing batsmen in their place. The great thing about McCullum is that he keeps improving his game all the time - if he's already an entertaining player now, we can't wait to see what he'll be like in a year or two.

2. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka):
Tests: 76 games, 6356 runs, 54.79 average, 55.85 strike rate; 153 catches, 20 stumpings
ODIs: 230 games, 6777 runs, 35.66 average, 74.42 strike rate; 209 catches, 59 stumpings

Without a doubt one of crickets most exciting batsmen - and he carries that form in both versions of the game. Sangakkara began to struggle when given the captaincy, but once he got rid of that burden he returned to the form we've come to expect from him. His abilities with the bat are outstanding, and as Black Caps fans we've become accustomed to Sangakkara scoring runs against us - as probably most teams have. They really don't come any more entertaining than Sangakkara.

1. Adam Gilchrist (Australia):
Tests: 96 games, 5570 runs, 47.60 average, 81.95 strike rate; 379 catches, 37 stumpings
ODIs: 287 games, 9619 runs, 35.89 average, 96.94 strike rate; 417 catches, 55 stumpings

Could there be anyone else at number 1? We don't think so. Gilly is the greatest opening batsman in ODI history, and definitely one of the best number 7's in Tests. You only have to look at his strike rates to know he didn't waste any time out in the middle. He liked to put on a show, and that's what he did time after time, after time. Gilchrist revolutionised the way wicket keepers played the game, transforming them from part-time batsmen into run scoring machines - and in doing so, made sure that there was no place in cricket for wicket keepers who couldn't bat. As for his keeping skills, he holds the record for ODI dismissals, and is second only to Boucher in Tests. We certainly hope they don't manage to find a replacement of his caliber in Australia. But really, how could they? There can only be one Adam Gilchrist.

The rugby league World Cup now moves into the business stage of the tournament, with only four teams remaining to fight it out for the title.

We've seen some fantastic clashes in the buildup to the semis, and even the odd upset along the way. Now, though, it comes down to Australia, New Zealand, England and Fiji.

Fiji will face a mountain of a task when they face the mighty Kangaroos, in what should be an easy win for the Aussies. Fiji caused an upset against the French to book their place in the semis, and look a lot like their rugby union counterparts in their style of play. They play an expansive game with plenty of flair, which we've come to expect from the Pacific Island teams - but their defence will be truly tested against the best in the business.

Australia have been largely untested so far, with easy wins against the Kiwis, England and PNG - and they show no signs of easing up. Perhaps their lack of a strong challenge may hamper their title aspirations, but really they would have to play terribly to lose at this stage. We expect nothing short of a sound thrashing for Fiji this weekend.

The game to watch this weekend will be the rematch between the Kiwis and England, who went head-to-head last weekend in what proved to be a very entertaining game in the finish. There will be no love lost between these two sides, especially after the English disrespected our Haka by forming a huddle, rather than facing it like men.

England certainly had the better of the two in the first half, but looked like they had nothing in the tank in the second half - which gave the Kiwis an opportunity to fight back, which they took with both hands.

The English coach, Tony Smith, said that the Kiwis were the ones who were being disrespectful by marching over the halfway mark into England's territory. Really, though, it was just a case of the Kiwi's making sure the English knew they were being challenged - and it's a shame the English were afraid to face it.

Perhaps they should talk to Willie Mason about what happens when you disrespect the Haka - we're sure David Kidwell wouldn't mind giving them a lesson in respect.

The winner of this one will, baring some kind of miracle, face the Aussies in the final - so it doesn't get more important than this. If the Kiwis can sort out their slow starts we don't see them losing this one either, but they will have to step it up - because you can guarantee England won't fall asleep in the second half again.

According to one Irish newspaper, the All Black's are the most hated side in rugby - and that the only people that love them are us New Zealanders. We're not sure about where they got their facts from, though, because the All Blacks are known for their wide appeal across the world, especially in the UK. Why else would they get 50,000 people to the game against Scotland?

It certainly wasn't just to watch the Scots.

The Irish may 'apparently' hate us (and chances are they won't like us much after the weekend, either), because they are about to face to the strongest possible All Blacks side - Henry has has chosen a full strength side for the second Test of the Grand Slam tour.

The Irish will definitely prove to be a tougher Test than the one against Scotland, but like the Scots they have yet to taste victory against the mighty All Blacks - and once again the All Blacks should prove to strong.

Mils Muliaina returns to the team after missing the first part of the tour to be at home with his new born son Max. Toeava has done a fantastic job filling in, but when Muliaina is available you pick him - after all he is, in our opinion, the best fullback in the world. Toeava will move to the bench, where he can cover a whole range of positions.

Joe Rokocoko has retained his place on the wing after an impressive return to Test rugby last week. He looked to get involved wherever he could, and it was certainly enough to secure one of the wing births. His cousin Sivivatu will return to the other wing after a week off - maybe the return of Joe can shake Sivivatu up a bit, and help him get back to the form we know he's capable of.

In the forwards Tony Woodcock, Brad Thorn, Rodney So'oialo and Jerome Kaino all make their way back to the team after resting against the Scots. Ali Williams will play his third game on tour, while Richie McCaw and Neemia Tialata return to the starting lineup.

It doesn't get much stronger than this, and the Irish will need to be on top of their game if they want to avoid a thrashing. They did perform well earlier in the year, but this is an All Blacks side that has grown since then, and should prove far too strong. It doesn't help that Ireland have only had a Test against Canada as a warm up to the main event...

This is one game where the Irish will need all the luck they can get.

Here are the full teams:

All Blacks: Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitivini Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (C), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Kevin Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Kieran Read, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava.

Ireland: Girvan Dempsey, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll (C), Luke Fitzgerald, Robert Kearney, Ronan O'Gara, Thomas O'Leary, Jaime Heaslip, David Wallace, Alan Quinlan, Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan, John Hayes, Rory Best, Marcus Horan.

Reserves: Jerry Flannery, Tony Buckley, Stephen Ferris, Shane Jennings, Eoin Reddan, Paddy Wallace, Kieth Earls.

It was a fitting way to send off two of India's favourite sons, Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble - a 2-0 series win over Australia, and with it the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Ganguly and Kumble are both stepping down from International cricket after serving their country for well over the past decade, and although Kumble could not play in the final Test due to an injury, at the conclusion of the match you got a sense of just how much these two players mean to their team mates.

The good thing for Indian cricket is that they seem well prepared for the departure of Ganguly and Kumble, with the likes of Youvraj Singh and young spinner Amit Mishra (who took three wickets in the final innings) the likely choices to take their places in the team.

They have obviously been preparing for their eventual retirements for some time, whereas Australia now seem to be struggling after losing a number of players.

We still don't think Australia's dominance over cricket has come to an end, but what is clear is that their strangle hold over cricket has been loosened. And, most importantly, their bully tactics now seem to be ineffectual against the other great Test sides in cricket, like India.

The Australians will be facing a lot of criticism, none more so than Ricky Ponting who chose to use part-time bowlers to speed up the over rate, rather than bowl front line bowlers to finish off the Indian lower order. It's been said that he was more concerned with his own well being rather than the interests of the team, as the captain can face suspension if the team is six overs behind schedule...which, at various stages, they were.

As Black Caps supporters we're very keen to see how our boys go against the Aussies in a week's time. The Black Caps will play two Tests against Australia, and although winning will be tough, we see a slight (and we mean very slight...) chance that the Black Caps can pounce on the wounded Aussies. It won't be easy, especially without the likes of Jacob Oram, but our batsmen should be able to withstand the lackluster bowling lineup of the Aussies.

Unfortunately, we think the Aussies will be too strong - even in their current state, which possibly doesn't say much for New Zealand cricket. But if there's one thing we've come to expect, it's that a wounded Aussie side can be very dangerous - and they don't come more wounded than the Australian team right now.

Photo credits, Flickr - hashmil (Ganguly), Prabu.S (Kumble)

In this week's Top Ten Cricket special we're looking at the greatest Test all-rounders of all time - and once again, these players virtually pick themselves.

The all-rounder is a special breed, and is such a vital part of any side. They are called on to go out and score the runs, and then follow that up by taking the wickets (or vice verse) - there's no rest from responsibility for them during a match.

It is for this reason they are possibly the most important factor when it comes to selecting a side, balance-wise.

We've decided to leave out wicket keepers, and focus on 'true' all-rounders, but don't despair - we'll look at the best keepers in the weeks ahead.

So here are the Top Ten all-rounders of all time:

10. Daniel Vettori (New Zealand): 85 Tests, 2898 runs, 27.60 average; 271 wickets, 33.39 average (and counting)
Vettori has only recently established himself as an all-rounder - for so long he was just a bowler who could bat a bit. Now, he is still a fantastic spin bowler, but also a very useful lower order batsman. His batting style is slightly unusual, but he is very creative and has gone on to score some very useful runs over the past couple of years. He is still very much a bowler who can bat, but as time goes on we think he will emerge as one of the great all-rounders. He's approaching the 3000 runs-300 wickets mark, and that says it all.

9. Chris Cairns (New Zealand): 62 Tests, 3320 runs, 33.53 average; 218 wickets, 29.40 average
One of cricket's biggest hitters of all time. Cairns was an aggressive batter who could go out and score runs very quickly - usually by smashing the ball over the boundary - and he'd then go and rip through a batting lineup with the ball. His career was shortened due to injury, which unfortunately meant we didn't get to see as much of him as we would have liked, but he will go down as one of New Zealand's greatest cricketers - and indeed one of the best all-rounders.

8. Andrew Flintoff (England): 70 Tests, 3494 runs, 32.35 average; 206 wickets, 32.21 average (and counting)
Flintoff has established himself as one of England's best players with both bat and ball, and despite being injured for long periods of his career he has produced some outstanding figures. He is a very aggressive batsman capable of smashing the ball out of the ground, and is equally aggressive with the ball in hand. If he can overcome his injury problems, he could fast become one of the greatest all-rounders of all time. For now, though, we'll keep him at eight.

7. Wasim Akram (Pakistan): 104 Tests, 2898 runs, 22.64 average; 414 wickets, 23.62 average
Like Vettori, Akram was more known for his attacking bowling (he easily made our Top Ten bowlers list), but he could also be very handy batting down the order for Pakistan. While he may not have been as reliable with the bat as Cairns or Flintoff, you always knew he posed a very real threat with the ball at the top of the innings. And, you couldn't write off his batting - he'd often save Pakistan by smashing quick-fire runs late in their innings. Even the best bowlers in the world had to be weary of Akram with the bat in his hand.

6. Shaun Pollock (South Africa): 108 Tests, 3781 runs, 32.31 average; 421 wickets, 23.11 average
We felt a bit guilty that we couldn't fit Pollock on our Top Ten bowling list, but there's no chance of us leaving him off the all-rounder list. He is indeed a fantastic bowler, and was for such a long period of time, and he was also a fine attacking weapon down the order with the bat. You wouldn't think it to look at him, but he could smash the ball a long way. He wasn't just a slogger, either - he could just as easily guide the ball through the field with excellent timing. He was a real handful for any side.

5. Imran Khan (Pakistan): 88 Tests, 3807 runs, 37.69 average; 362 wickets, 22.81 average
One of only six players to ever score an all-rounders triple - 300 wickets and 3000 runs. Khan dominated the game for two decades, and is regarded as one of Pakistan's greatest ever players - he really does symbolise what an all-rounder is all about. He was equally adapt at batting as he was at bowling, too - there wasn't really a weak point to his game. Also one of the greatest captains of all time.

4. Jacques Kallis (South Africa): 123 Tests, 9761 runs, 55.46 average; 240 wickets, 31.22 average (and counting)
Kallis is one of the best batsmen to play the game, and he is also a great bowler who is often overlooked for his bowling abilities. He broke onto the scene as a top order batsman, but over time he became one of South Africa's top order bowlers. His pace may have slowed down over time, as most fast bowlers do, but he can still create a few problems for batsmen with the ball. We don't really have to mention his batting - an average of over 55 speaks for itself.

3. Sir Ian Botham (England): 102 Tests, 5200 runs, 33.54 average; 383 wickets, 28.40 average
The business end of the list. 'Beefy' was one of the most competitive cricketers, and it's no wonder he became one of the greatest all-rounders. Like Cairns he was a big hitter of the ball, and he liked to score runs quickly - making him very hard to bowl to. Bowling wise, he still holds the England record for wickets taken. His career may have been filled with controversy, but we still think he was one of the most entertaining players to play the game.

2. Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand); 86 Tests, 3124 runs, 27.16 average; 431 wickets, 22.29 average
Hadlee was to New Zealand what Botham was to England - but without the controversy. Hadlee is easily one of the best bowlers on the list, second only to Akram. He really could swing a game in New Zealand's favour with the ball, ripping through some of the best batsmen of the time. He could also score runs with the bat, and is one of the six players to hold an all-rounder's triple.

1. Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies): 93 Tests, 8032 runs, 57.78 average; 235 wickets, 34.03 average
Like Kallis, Sobers is probably more regarded for his batting - but there's no denying his ability with the ball. What made him even more dangerous as a bowler was that he could bowl pace or spin, which not many players can claim to be able to do. He may not have the most runs or the most wickets, but what makes him our number one choice is the fact that he could win the game with both the ball and bat. We never got to see him play, but from all accounts they don't come much better that Sobers.

We have to give a special mention to three players who came so close to making the list, but in the end just missed out - Jacob Oram, Lance 'Zulu' Klusener and Chris Gayle. Three fantastic players that could/can be absolutely thrilling to watch!

Photo's from Flickr - kp-snap (Chris Cairns), mugley (Andrew Flintoff)

Lastly, we come to the Blues - a side that can either blow all the other teams out of the water, or go down like a sinking ship.

So often the Blues start off with a hiss and a roar, only to start slipping towards the back end of the season.

Like the Crusaders the Blues have lost some big names, like Nick Evans, Daniel Braid and Troy Flavell - all of whom have been important factors in the side's success. Life without these three will certainly test the Blues, but they have definitely brought in the right players to replace them.

Ali Williams makes his return to Auckland after a year with the Crusaders, where he will no doubt have learned some valuable things from Robbie Deans. Hopefully his return to the big smoke won't affect his rugby, although he's always been a better player at Test level than he has at the lower levels.

Braid has been replaced by Josh Blackie, who returns to New Zealand from Japan. The former Highlander is certainly capable of filling Braid's shoes, although he may struggle to adapt to the intensity of the game for a few weeks. Aside from that, he will be a valuable asset to the Blues.

Jimmy Goppeth is also new to the Blues, and has a tough task ahead of him guiding the Blues around the field. He is the type of player who is either outstanding or really terrible, and this may be a weak spot for the Blues - especially when you consider his backup is Tasesa Lavea.

Pat Lam is the new coach of the Blues, and this will be good for the predominantly Pacific squad. He certainly knows how to get the best out of the Pacific boys, which is something previous Blues coaches have failed to do. In fact the only other coach who could do this for the Blues was Graham Henry.

The Blues are capable of winning the Super 14, but like the Hurricanes they will need to play consistently throughout the entire competition. Anything short of a top four finish for the Blues will be considered a failure.

No pressure, lads.

Here's their full squad:

Tony Woodcock (North Harbour) , John Afoa (Auckland), Charlie Faumuina (Auckland), Tevita Mailau (Auckland) , Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Tom McCartney (Auckland), Ali Williams (Auckland), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Jay Williams (Auckland), Kurtis Haiu (Auckland), Justin Collins (Northland), Josh Blackie (Auckland), Onosai Auva'a (Auckland), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Chris Lowery (Auckland), Taniela Moa (Auckland), Chris Smylie (North Harbour), Tasesa Lavea (Auckland), Jimmy Gopperth (North Harbour), Michael Hobbs (Wellington, draft), Benson Stanley (Auckland), Jamie Helleur (Auckland), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Rudi Wulf (North Harbour), Rene Ranger (Northland), Paul Williams (Auckland), Isaia Toeava (Auckland).

The New Zealand Warriors have announced that the Little General, Stacey Jones, is coming out of retirement, and has signed a one year deal with the club.

Jones has not played for the Warriors in three years, although he did play a couple of seasons for Les Catalans in the Super League. More recently, he played in the one-off All Golds Test against the New Zealand Maori.

This decision has come completely out of the blue. To be completely honest, we thought it was a joke when we first heard it announced. The more we think about it, though, the more we think this could be a brilliant move by Ivan Cleary. It's no secret that Grant Rovelli has struggled to play consistent footy at halfback, but with someone like the Little General looking for game time, Rovelli may be forced to make a drastic improvement. Either that, or face the scrap heap.

Cleary has said that Jones is not guaranteed a starting position, and will have to prove to the coaching staff that he is capable of playing the high level of footy he is known for - but someone with the class he has should have no problem adjusting to the daily grind of the NRL.

At 32 years of age his comeback is unlikely to be a lengthy one, but with the form the Warriors showed in the back end of this season, he may only have to play one more year to gain that elusive NRL Premiership.

(The season hasn't even started, and we already think the Warriors can win...OK, maybe we're thinking too far ahead...)

No doubt many people will think he's too old to make an impact, but just remember the year that Ruben Wiki had. Sometimes age can be an advantage, especially when you've been around as long as Stacey has.

The only bad part about this news? It makes us wish the 2009 season was starting next weekend. Five months is a long time to wait...

We now move our attention to the Waikato Chiefs - another side that has failed to make a serious impact on the Super 14/12. For some reason, they've always struggled to step up from the provincial level to the Super 14 level, and when you consider the players they have at their disposal it's extremely hard to see why.

Unfortunately for Chiefs fans it's hard to see them making an impact on the Super 14 in 2009, because they've lost some influential players from their 2008 squad. Jonno Gibbs and Tom Willis have both been great servants of Waikato rugby, and will leave a pretty big hole in the squad.

Hika Elliot has been drafted to the Chiefs to replace Willis, and whilst he's a great player and a very excellent lineout thrower, he lacks that vital experience that comes with years of rugby. We think bringing in Elliot was a good move, but it will take time for him to build up that experience that Willis brought to the squad.

Their front row is also a little inexperienced when compared to the other four franchises, and this could take a toll on the team as the competition moves into the latter rounds. They will all need to step up in order to lay a good platform for their backs to operate.

Speaking of backs - that's something that they don't need to worry about at all. They are packed with very good impact players - players who can pull something out of the bag at will. The likes of Mils Muliaina, Sivivatu and Richard Kahui bring that important experience factor, while Lelia Masaga and Sosene Anesi bring the flair that the Chiefs love to play with.

In the halves you've got Brendon Leonard and Stephen Donald, who are two players who continue to grow, and will lead the Chiefs around the field. If they can stay fit, they will certainly help the Chiefs chances.

Unfortunately, we don't think their forward pack will be up to the task, as there is a definite lack of experience - and you need more that just raw talent to survive in the Super 14.

They will certainly surprise a few sides along the way, but in terms of making a charge at the trophy - we don't think they'll have the steam.

Here's their full squad:

Arizona Taumalolo (Waikato), Ben May (Waikato), James McGougan (Bay of Plenty), Joe Savage (Bay of Plenty),Hika Elliot (Hawkes Bay, draft), Aled de Malmanche (Waikato), Kevin O'Neill (Waikato),Toby Lynn (Waikato), Craig Clarke (Taranaki, draft), Mark Burman (Waikato), Liam Messam (Waikato), Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty), Serge Lilo (Wellington, draft), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Colin Bourke (Bay of Plenty), Brendon Leonard (Waikato), Toby Morland (Otago, draft), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Michael Delany (Bay of Plenty), Callum Bruce (Waikato), Jackson Willison (Waikato), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Lelia Masaga (Counties Manukau), Sosene Anesi (Waikato), James Wilson (Southland, draft), Malili Muliaina (Waikato), Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato).

Time now to take a look at the North Island franchises, starting with the Wellington Hurricanes - who really have been the biggest under-achievers of recent years.

For at team packed with so many of the game's best, they certainly have not produced the results expected of them. They've come oh-so-close in recent years, only to slip up at the last hurdle.

They will once again go into the competition with high expectations placed upon them, and for good reason. They have one of the most exciting backlines, a very good loose forward trio, and some very useful backup players waiting in the wings.

With this said, there should be no reason why they can't make a good challenge at the title. The only thing stopping them is themselves...

For some reason they always seem to break down at crucial moments, which in the Super 14 you just can't do. It's a close competition, and there's always someone ready to overtake you.

The biggest hurdle for the Hurricanes will be going into the competition without an experienced first-five. Daniel Kirkpatrick looks like he has the goods, but he is very young, and has not played in the Super 14 before. Willie Ripia got some quality game time earlier in the year, but he too is relatively new and untested. This may see Piri Weepu spend a bit of time at first-five, as he did in the Air New Zealand Cup - which certainly isn't a bad thing considering how well he played. The only problem with this is the simple fact that Weepu is a much better halfback then he is a first-five...

Their outside backs will be something to watch, with Cory Jane, Hosea Gear, David Smith and Zac Guilford all showing their skills throughout the Air New Zealand Cup. Then, when you add Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Tamati Ellison into the mix, you've got one heck of a backline at your disposal.

Their forwards will be strong, and will benefit from the experience of their All Blacks like Andrew Hore and Rodney So'oialo, who will most likely captain the team once again. There are two newcomers to watch - Victor Vito, who showed glimpses of what he's capable of in the Air New Zealand Cup, but has also showed his inexperience at times, is an exciting prospect. And Dane Coles, who had a wonderful Air New Zealand Cup campaign, and has certainly put his name on the All Black selector's minds for the years ahead.

Any team boasting this lineup would be confident of lifting the trophy at the end of the year, and the Hurricanes will certainly be so. However, they will need to overcome the mental aspect of the game if they are to have any success in 2009. It's plagued them for so many years now, and if they can't shake it with this squad, they may never make it over that final hurdle...

Here's their full squad:

John Schwalger (Wellington), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Jacob Ellison (Wellington), Tim Fairbrother (Wellington), Andrew Hore (Taranaki) , Dane Coles (Wellington), Jason Eaton (Taranaki), Jeremy Thrush (Wellington), Bryn Evans (Hawkes Bay), Api Naikatini (Wellington), Faifili Levave (Wellington), Scott Waldrom (Taranaki), Karl Lowe (Hawkes Bay), Victor Vito (Wellington), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Josh Bradnock (Manawatu), Alby Mathewson (Wellington), Piri Weepu (Wellington), Willie Ripia (Taranaki), Dan Kirkpatrick (Wellington), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Jason Kawau (Southland, draft), Tamati Ellison (Wellington), Hosea Gear (Wellington), David Smith (Wellington), Zac Guildford (Hawkes Bay), Cory Jane (Wellington).

Today we're taking a look at the Canterbury Crusaders - easily the greatest Super rugby side of all time. However, there have been a lot of changes in the Canterbury region, and it's going to be interesting to see how these changes affect the Crusaders.

The biggest change is that Robbie Deans has departed, and we all know the impact he had on the side. Todd Blackadder has been given the task of filling the giant boots left by Deans, and while he has experience coaching at the provincial level, this step up will surely test his abilities to keep the Crusaders at the top of the food chain.

The biggest thing to Blackadder's advantage is that he has been able to stick with players from within the Canterbury and Tasman region - only Jason MacDonald has been drafted from Otago. This means the squad will be very familiar with one another, and will be able to gel together quickly. It also helps that the large majority of the squad have experience with the Crusaders.

Life at the Crusdaders will definitely be different without the likes of Ruben Thorne, Caleb Ralph and Dan Carter (off on his sabbatical...), but there is a lot of new talent emerging in the region - none more so than young Colin Slade, who proved capable of filling in for Dan Carter during the Air New Zealand Cup.

Thomas Waldrom has made the move down south from Wellington to help bolster the loose forwards, and when you consider that they already have McCaw and Kieran Read, it makes for a pretty exciting loose forward trio.

Whether or not the Crusaders can continue to dominate like they have for the past decade is any one's guess, but we don't expect too much to change. They may not be quite as filled with superstars as they have been in the past, but don't count them out.

They are the kings when it comes to Super 14 rugby, and it'll take something truly special to dethrone them.

Here's their full squad:

Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury), Ben Franks (Tasman), Owen Franks (Canterbury), Bronson Murray (Canterbury), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Jason MacDonald (Otago, draft), Brad Thorn (Tasman), Ross Filipo (Canterbury), Issac Ross (Canterbury), Michael Patterson (Canterbury), Kieran Read (Canterbury), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), George Whitelock (Canterbury), Thomas Waldrom (Canterbury), Nasi Manu (Canterbury), Jonathan Poff (Tasman), Andy Ellis (Canterbury), Kahn Fotuali'i (Tasman), Colin Slade (Canterbury), Stephen Brett (Canterbury), Tim Bateman (Canterbury), Ryan Crotty (Canterbury), Casey Laulala (Canterbury), Adam Whitelock (Canterbury), Kade Poki (Tasman), Sean Maitland (Canterbury), Jared Payne (Canterbury), Leon MacDonald (Canterbury).

There are changes-a-plenty for the All Blacks, as they get ready to face the Scots at Edinburgh this weekend. Only three of the players who started against the Wallabies last Saturday will start this weekend - Isaia Toeava, Ali Williams and Stephen Donald.

Before people start talking about "rotation" again, let's remember that Graham Henry purposely took a large squad so that he could give the new players an opportunity to play at the highest level, and Scotland will definitely be the easier of the four Tests - although that doesn't mean they'll be a walk-over.

Liam Messam and Kieran Read will debut in the loose forwards, while Jaime Mackintosh will make his debut in the front row. All three have earned their spot after consistent rugby over the past year.

The biggest news is that Kevin Mealamu will captain the side for the first time in his long career. With McCaw on the bench and Rodney So'oialo sitting the game out, Mealamu is the most experienced player in the team, and he has experience captaining with the Blues.

Joe Rokocoko makes his long awaited return to the All Blacks after missing virtually the whole year with various injuries. It's going to be interesting to see whether he can continue his good form that he was showing at the end of last season.

Here's the full lineup:

Isaia Toeava, Anthony Tuitavake, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Stephen Donald, Piri Weepu, Liam Meesam, Adam Thomson, Kieran Read, Ali Williams, Antthony Boric, John Afoa, Kevin Mealamu (c), Jaime Mackintosh.

Reserves: Corey Flynn, Neemia Tialata, Ross Filipo, Richie McCaw, Andy Ellis, Dan Carter, Cory Jane.

Over the course of the next five days, we will be reviewing the five New Zealand Super 14 franchises for the upcoming 2009 season. Last Friday the squads were announced, and we will be looking at who's in, and who didn't make the cut.

We're starting off with the Otago Highlanders, who have been struggling for the past few seasons - mainly due to the fact that they haven't been able to keep the same squad together for any long period of time.

We said earlier in the year that if the Highlanders were to stand any chance of improving on their poor 2008 season they needed to keep the same squad together in order for them to grow as a team.

Well, the great news for Otago fans is that they've finally been able to do that (minus one or two players), and all the draft players from last year have returned to the deep south.

We certainly don't think they'll go on to win the title (although Israel will be hoping they can...), but by keeping the bulk of 2008's squad they can certainly improve, and will be able to surprise a few sides.

They will be most improved in the back line, where they have secured the services of some good talent. Most importantly, Fetu'u Vainikolo has returned to Otago, which gives them some flair out wide and a genuine try-scoring machine. Added to the mix are Jason Shoemark and Jayden Hayward, both of whom have been outstanding in the Air New Zealand Cup. Israel Dagg is also coming south, and will replace Paul Williams, who is returning to the Blues. That's four exciting players, and should be the answer to Otago's lack of try-scoring talent in recent years.

Their forwards will continue to be a handful for the other sides in the competition. Although they're not full of 'superstars', they're very good at the set pieces, and will be led well from the likes of Jaime Mackintosh, Adam Thomson and Tom Donnelly. The loss of Craig Newby is pretty big, as is the loss of Hoani MacDonald, but they have enough talent to move on.

The only concern with the squad is that rookie winger Karne Hesketh has not been selected. He was undoubtedly their best player in the Air New Zealand Cup, and the top try scorer with seven. Why on earth you'd leave him out is beyond us - apparently it has something to do with his lack of genuine pace, but when you can break tackles like he can who needs pace? He must feel more than slightly aggrieved that he's missed out, while Lucky Mulipola has made it after a poor season.

It's a real shame that one of the other teams didn't pick him up in the draft, because he really is a great player.

For the Highlanders to succeed in 2009 they have to start winning at home, and return to the days where the House of Pain meant just that - no one could beat them. Now-a-days, it's more of a House of Pain for Otago fans. If they can start winning at home, they will be able to make a strong push for the semi-finals, especially as they have always been good playing in South Africa. It's a long road ahead, but they are finally able to grow as a team - and that could mean that success is just around the corner.

Here's the full squad:

Jaime Mackintosh (Southland), Clint Newland (Otago), Chris King (Otago), Anthony Perenise (Wellington, draft), David Hall (Souhtland), Jason Rutledge (Southland), Hayden Triggs (Otago), Tom Donnelly (Otago), Josh Bekhuis (Otago), Ross Kennedy (Otago), Adam Thomson (Otago), Tim Boys (Souhtland), Aland Soakai (Otago), Steven Setephano (Otago), George Naoupo (Hawkes Bay, draft), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Sean Romans (Otago), Daniel Bowden (Otago), Matt Berquist (Hawkes Bay, draft), Jason Shoemark (Hawkes Bay, draft), Jayden Hayward (Taranaki), Johnny Leota (Otago), Kendrick Lynn (Southland), Brett Mather (Otago), Lucy Mulipola (Otag), Fetu'u Vainikola (Otago), Ben Smith (Otago), Israel Dagg (Hawkes Bay,draft).

The All Blacks had to fight hard to beat the Wallabies in Hong Kong on Saturday night, coming back from being 14-6 down to win 19-14 - in what really was a game of two halves.

The Aussies were definitely the better of the two sides in the first half, and didn't look to be affected by the long period off between Tests, whereas the All Blacks started off in less than ideal fashion.

The handling was poor, and there didn't seem to be any cohesion between the players - which seems strange, seeing that most of the players had some game time during the Air New Zealand Cup. The Aussies, on the other hand, were attacking out wide and making inroads against the All Black defensive line - which led to two trys, both scored by Drew Mitchell.

The only thing keeping the All Blacks in the game was the Wallabies poor discipline, which gave Dan Carter three penalty's to bring the score to 14-9 at half time.

However, the first half only got worse for the All Blacks as Andrew Hore went off injured with an ankle injury, forcing him out of the rest of the tour - he'll be replaced by Hika Elliot. This is a huge loss for the All Blacks, as Hore has started in every Test this year, and was putting a big gap between himself and the other hookers.

It's just fortunate that we have a handy backup in Kevin Mealamu - although his lineout throwing can be suspect at times.

The All Blacks got down to business in the second half, and started to play some enterprising rugby, which led to their first try scored by Sivivatu. Their passes started to stick, and they soon began to find holes in the Wallaby line.

Sivivatu had a hand in the second try, too, setting up Richie McCaw to give the All Blacks a 19-14 lead, which they would hold onto for the rest of the game.

The combination of Stephen Donald and Dan Carter did not work as well as it did in Brisbane, and for the first half it basically kept Carter out of the action. Donald was replaced by Ma'a Nonu in the second half, and Carter was back in the number 10 jersey (where he belongs). If they are to try this combination again, they have to put Donald at second five, leaving Carter to weave his magic at number 10.

Isaia Toeava had one of his best games for the All Blacks, and is starting to look more settled at Test level. He made some fantastic runs, including one where he broke through about five or six tackles. It's finally starting to look like Henry's persistence with Toeava is paying off.

The Wallabies will be disappointed that they couldn't push on in the second half, but they have nothing to blame but their own poor discipline. They were very lucky no one was sin binned, because there were times that someone should have been.

The All Blacks now head to Scotland, where they should have no trouble in maintaining their unbeaten run against the Scots. They have four Tests in four weeks, plus the midweek game against Munster - but for this squad that workload should be no issue.

As for the Test in Hong Kong, we think it was a complete success. They basically filled the stadium (there were only 300 seats left), and the players all seemed to enjoy mixing with the locals and helping to spread the game to Asia. Based on this game, there should be no reason why more Tests can't be played in Hong Kong.