All Blacks

Returning All Blacks captain Kieran Read says his side needs to find their rhythm quickly against a hungry Wallabies side in tonight's opening Bledisloe Cup game in Sydney.

Jack Maddocks looms as the second-half game-breaker to pilot the Wallabies to Bledisloe Cup glory after being handed a dream test debut against the All Blacks in Sydney.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has identified several areas where his side must apply pressure to beat a Wallabies unit he reckons has improved greatly.

Brodie Retallick and Kieran Read return to the All Blacks lineup while Jack Goodhue will start in the centres in Saturday night's Rugby Championship opener against Australia in Sydney.

Refusing to fall for the All Blacks' "mind games", Wallabies five-eighth Bernard Foley has no doubt he will be opposing Beauden Barrett in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney.

The All Blacks are making no secret of intentions to exploit the Wallabies' inexperience at outside centre in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney.

The All Blacks are on "high alert" over the threat David Pocock could pose at the breakdown when they meet the Wallabies in Saturday's Rugby Championship opener, according to flanker Sam Cane.

The All Blacks insist the haka is as powerful, prestigious and pivotal as ever, claiming Kees Meeuws' thoughts about the pre-game ritual haven't been accurately reported.

Wallabies halfback Will Genia rates winning a Bledisloe Cup above the World Cup, describing a series victory against the New Zealanders as his "number one priority".

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has urged disenchanted Australian rugby fans to keep supporting the Wallabies despite their Bledisloe Cup drought.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen rates the 2018 Wallabies more dangerous than last year's model and isn't backing away from branding them favourites for their opening clash.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will struggle to convince anybody that his side deserve to start as underdogs in the Bledisloe Cup opener, including his own players, Michael Cheika says.

All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster says last year's loss to Australia in the third and final Bledisloe Cup match still hurts.

Former All Black halfback Piri Weepu has been fined $600 and disqualified from driving for six months aftering pleading guilty to drink driving.

The Hurricanes pair of loose forward Vaea Fifita and centre Ngani Laumape have been left out of the All Blacks squad for the rugby championship.

Sonny Bill Williams is among a group of 10 Blues Super Rugby players who are going back to school to work towards a Bachelor's Degree.

Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles has been included in the All Blacks wider training squad for this week's pre-Rugby Championship camp in Christchurch.

All Black centurian Keven Mealamu believes Wallabies star Kurtley Beale poses the biggest threat to New Zealand during the upcoming Bledisloe Cup series.