All Blacks

According to L’equipe, Carter and Rokocoko’s urine returned abnormal levels of steroids following their final French Top 14 rugby match back in June. However, according to the players’ management, both men had correct exemptions for using the banned substance, New Zealand Media and Entertainment reported.

Both Carter and Rokocoko play with Racing 92, who claimed their first title in 26 seasons earlier in the year, defeating Toulon 29-21.

Aaron Smith was handed a one-game suspension and faces a misconduct hearing after members of the public spotted him following a woman into a disabled toilet last month, while he and his All Blacks teammates were waiting at Christchurch airport.

"I've made a huge mistake, a huge error in judgment," the 27-year-old told reporters at the team's hotel in South Africa Thursday.

"I'd firstly like to say a huge sorry to my partner Teagan, her family, my family. I'm also sorry to my teammates, NZRU and the New Zealand fans.

RNZ reports Kaino will rejoin the All Blacks squad for the final Test of the Rugby Championship against South Africa a week later.

Fellow loose forward Sam Cane and first five Aaron Cruden have been ruled out for the rest of the Rugby Championship due to injury.

Matt Todd and Damien McKenzie will travel as injury replacements for Cane and Cruden while George Moala and Waisake Naholo return from injury.

The All Blacks won the Rugby Championship with two rounds to spare after beating the Boks 41-13 in Christchurch while the Wallabies halted Argentina in Perth later in the day.

Fox Sports reports New Zealand players are centrally contracted to the national side, with the NZRU having the ultimate say in player conditioning and welfare, and the 92-Test international believes it is allowing the All Blacks to create a gulf between them and the rest of world rugby.

Crotty scored New Zealand's opening try of the Championship in the first of two victories over Australia, as Steve Hansen's men retained the Bledisloe Cup.

The Crusaders centre missed the second clash through injury, with Anton Lienert-Brown coming in to make his debut.

However, Crotty is now fully recovered from his head knock and will don the number 12 shirt once again in Hamilton on Saturday.

"In selecting this team, we felt there was the need for consistency," Hansen said. 

RNZ reports the All Blacks have begun the series with two straightforward wins over Australia, the second in Wellington becoming a niggly affair when the Wallabies tried to provoke the All Blacks in retaliating.

Lock Brodie Rettallick says he doesn't mind that style of game as it indicates the opposition isn't focusing on the game although he admits it can get frustrating.

"There's a line where you have got to stand up as a team and not just stand there are take it and there's also a point where it diverts you from what you are doing.

RNZ reports the All Blacks had lost four midfield options to injury with Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, George Moala and Charlie Ngatai unavailable, meaning one of three rookies was likely to be thrust into the run on role.

The 21-year-old has beaten out uncapped 19-year-old Reiko Ioane and Chiefs team-mate centre Seta Taminivalu for the starting midfield spot alongside Malakai Fekitoa. Two-test centre Taminivalu is on the bench, while Ioane misses the match-day 23.

Coach Steve Hansen said Lienert-Brown was deserving of his debut.

Speculation was rife that Cooper would fill the number 12 jersey after the Wallabies lost all three of Matt Giteau, Matt Toomua and Rob Horne to injury last week. But Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has opted to put the former Reds flyhalf straight into the main playmaking role.

Cooper will combine with usual Wallabies 10 Bernard Foley in a dual playmaker structure, with Foley starting at inside centre for the first time in his Test career.

Three of Australia’s backs were lost before half-time, including both inside centres Matt Giteau and Matt Toomua, as New Zealand piled on the points, with four opening half tries and six overall, in front of 65,238 at ANZ Stadium.

All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett shaded Wallabies counterpart Bernard Foley in a man of the match performance, with slick attack and accurate kicking and as much as Australia battled hard nothing seemed to connect.

Australia's Bledisloe Cup hopes lie in tatters after the crushing 42-8 loss, in which the rampant world champions piled on six tries to one in an attacking masterclass.

It is New Zealand's biggest win over the Wallabies on Australian soil in 113 years.

The shellshocked Wallabies were dominated in every facet, with the scrum and lineout malfunctioning, the breakdown ravaged and bodies broken in a disastrous start to the tournament.