![The boys made good](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
The boys made good
One planned to strike it rich. The other grew up with a dream to be an All Black. Now they say goodbye to the region that helped them achieve those goals.
One planned to strike it rich. The other grew up with a dream to be an All Black. Now they say goodbye to the region that helped them achieve those goals.
After the motley start to this season against Samoa in Apia, tonight must be about picking up some rhythm against the Pumas, writes Wynne Gray.
It's fitting that Richie McCaw's last significant game in Christchurch will be played under Steve Hansen, who says "there was just something about him from day one".
He has now played 103 tests, and has scored a record 1477 test points, but there is little Dan Carter takes for granted as far as the All Blacks are concerned.
Ahead of the All Blacks' opening Rugby Championship game of the year, we look at all the stats you need to know.
Hundreds of mostly young rugby fans queued up to meet their All Blacks heroes in Christchurch today.
Kiwis need to celebrate the good times more than they do, according to All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw.
Sonny Bill Williams has posted a picture of his daughter on social media last night, sharing her first swim with his 443,000 followers on Twitter.
He has played 103 tests for the All Blacks over 13 years, but there is still improvement to come from Dan Carter.
It seemed a classic either/or scenario but the All Black selectors have decided they can solve the Sonny Bill Williams or Ma'a Nonu dilemma by including them both.
The classics remain in this team - the meat and potatoes of the All Blacks' degustation, the players who have satisfied even the fussiest of palates, writes Scotty Stevenson.
The All Blacks have a lot to thank the Highlanders for - and in the most unusual way, writes Chris Rattue.
It is, surprisingly, five years since the Maori All Blacks last played at home.
Fresh from winning a Super Rugby title, Waisake Naholo's year just keeps getting better.
Charlie Faumuina has undergone neck surgery in a late bid to be fit for the World Cup.
The good, the bad and the questionable. A Herald series looking at modern sports science - today, rugby jersey grip technology.
The physical threat the All Blacks face this week will be equally intense as the one they encountered in Samoa.
Sponsor released video in which the players show off their most worrying stare.
The performance of a man who played little part in the Maori All Blacks' stunning revival could have the biggest ramifications this year.
The Canterbury region will farewell two favourite rugby sons on Friday but All Black coach Steve Hansen warns Christchurch may soon be made to wave goodbye to the All Blacks.
The Samoan game was a tough one to judge but the All Blacks will ultimately benefit from the hit-out before the Rugby Championship begins.
I can't wait for Lima Sopoaga's first All Blacks game, because he'll likely lay to rest one of rugby's most enduring and racism-tinged myths, writes Paul Lewis.
Gregor Paul writes: Everyone wants to know when the All Blacks will be coming back to Samoa, but what about Australia, South Africa and France?
One of the big positives to come out of the Samoan test was the performances of the new caps, particularly Nepo Laulala, George Moala and Charlie Ngatai.
One of the most eagerly contested positions in the AB' pack is blindside flanker, and Kaino will be hoping he's done enough to see off his friend and rival Liam Messam for the next test.
Whether it is by luck or good management won't matter to Israel Dagg, who will settle for a good performance against Argentina any way it comes.
The Rugby Championship is now the only opportunity to test and solve any issues before the World Cup, says Justin Marshall.