New Zealand All Blacks

It's the sport's most storied and bitter rivalry.

Over the course of 105 Test matches since their first meeting at the House of Pain, Carisbrook stadium in Dunedin in 1921, these two most recognisable of rugby rivals have fought battles on and off the pitch to create some of the sport's most iconic moments.

New Zealand won that first game 13-5 and have a far superior record overall, leading the head-to-head 62 to 39, with four draws.

But numbers can only tell you so much.

The All Blacks hammered a desperately disappointing Argentina 44-6 in a one-sided, uncompetitive semifinal at the Stade de France.

Here are the five quick hits from New Zealand's dominant semifinal victory over Los Pumas.

1. Will Jordan can't stop scoring

Will Jordan is on the cusp of achieving something pretty special.

The 25-year-old All Blacks winger notched a wonderful hat-trick against Argentina to move to eight tries for the tournament as a whole.

France full-back Thomas Ramos kicked 17 points as the hosts overcame New Zealand in the opening match of Rugby World Cup 2023 at the Stade de France.

The All Blacks scored after just 92 seconds when Mark Telea touched down Beauden Barrett’s precise cross-kick, but three Ramos penalties helped Les Bleus into a 9-8 half-time lead.

Telea’s second try, from Richie Mo’unga’s floated pass, put New Zealand back in front but after Damian Penaud was denied a try by Mo’unga’s tackle, France seized the momentum.

The first win in New Zealand last week was followed by another first in Wellington: a second consecutive victory over the All Blacks to take the Test series against the most formidable of rugby nations for the first time since matches between the two began in 1905.

New Zealand beat Australia to retain Rugby World Cup

http://www.looppng.com/content/new-zealand-beat-australia-retain-rugby-world-cup

New Zealand held off a fierce Australian comeback to win a thrilling World Cup final and become the first team to retain their title.

Sirinumu dam needs continuous rain to buff up stock

The All Blacks were almost out of sight at half-time, Julian Savea scoring two tries and Brodie Retallick and Nehe Milner-Skudder one apiece.

A try by Louis Picamoles had kept France afloat but when he was sent to the sin-bin French hopes evaporated.

Savea completed a fine hat-trick and Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read and Tawera Kerr-Barlow (two) also crossed.

The 43-10 win over Georgia at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium was not the emphatic victory the side had hoped for, after talking about needing to step up a level during the week.

There were some positives, with Waisake Naholo's outstanding opening try with his first touch in a World Cup and Julian Savea's hat-trick putting smiles on the face of the All Blacks coach.

However it will be the error rate that will be of most concern, with the side struggling with some of the basics of the game.

Halfback Nic White came off the bench to score a penalty and a converted try which settled a contest which had see-sawed back and forth for the best part of 70 minutes, giving the Wallabies a first win over the All Blacks since they won the final Tri-Nations in 2011.

Prop Sekope Kepu and wing Adam Ashley-Cooper also crossed for the Australians, who will win back the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002 if they can beat New Zealand in Auckland next week.

He played 38 tests and 75 matches for the All Blacks in the 1970s but he was also Samoa's head coach at the 1991 World Cup.

Samoa beat Wales and Argentina to finish second behind Australia in their group, which made the rugby world suddenly take sit up and notice of teams from the Pacific Islands.

His son Paul played for Samoa at the last World Cup and he said he could never understand why it had taken so long for New Zealand to play in Samoa.