Richie McAwesome. Absolutely. Love the ads, fairly happy with the way the All Blacks skipper goes about his real work, too.

Looks like that poor little English rugby team is already running up the white flag or at least a distress signal. In other words, one con job over, and on to the next one.

Before a ball had even been kicked yesterday, rugby had already got a result out of it and the All Blacks had already achieved what they wanted to by bringing the game to Chicago.

If Daniel Carter was a golfer, he'd have reloaded after a couple of stray drives from the first tee, writes Wynne Gray.

Successful sports teams always tinker and work on their next ideas. The All Blacks are top of the world ratings and continue to unpick and remodel their strategies.

The All Blacks took their travelling show to Toyota Stadium yesterday, home of football team the Chicago Fire.

It seems likely Sonny Bill Williams will get his first start for the All Blacks since 2012 on Sunday at Soldier Field.

The Kiwis' Four Nations win over Australia may have been hard fought but Saturday's clash against Samoa will provide just as big a test for Stephen Kearney's side.

A couple of years ago, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew unfurled his most sincere sponsorship voice as he welcomed AIG into the All Black fold.

"Chicago welcomes the New Zealand All Blacks," was writ large in LED lighting above the freeway as the bus rolled out of O'Hare Airport towards downtown.

The Kiwis' overwhelming physical dominance of the Kangaroos in Saturday night's Four Nations clash revealed the blueprint for further success in the coming weeks.

The Kiwis may hold the edge in experience but will still be wary of the young and dangerous looking Kangaroos side named for Saturday's Four Nations clash in Brisbane.

Does Hansen dare play Dan Carter in this toughest of test arenas again so soon after recovery, asks Patrick McKendry.

Far be it for a Kiwi to stick their beak into what is going on across the Tasman, but for heaven's sake, can Australian Rugby just get their act together already?

All Whites defender Tommy Smith has done the right thing, but now Kiwi football fans need him to say the right things.

A few weeks back, Mike Hesson made the point that the World Cup door was not shut on Jesse Ryder.

It was more a relief than anything else watching Keven Mealamu zooming about against Argentina, turning the clock back far enough to remind everyone how good he has been, or still might be.

Tempting as it is to scream Free Aaron Cruden in the name of giving a bloke a break, it's difficult not to go along with All Black coach Steve Hansen's temporary sacking of the little playmaker.

The impending perjury trial of Chris Cairns calls to mind the strange tale of author, former convict and lord of the realm, Jeffrey Archer.

Chris Rattue writes: It's that time again, a moment as good as any for paying homage to Richie McCaw.

There wouldn't have been one person who went away from Westpac Stadium disappointed in the test match they watched.

Why do playmakers always win the Dally M? Players in other positions also deserve recognition.

The All Blacks have taken the first step towards treating Pacific Islands rugby with the respect it deserves and laying the groundwork for activating brilliant sporting rivalries laying dormant.

Thousands of empty seats in Perth, yet more glaring refereeing blunders in both tests and what appears to be an increasing gap between the All Blacks and everyone else.

There were plenty of talking points from Saturday's international rugby, including the performance of Beauden Barrett and the workmanlike All Black victory.

Before we start, I know I've banged on about refs recently but, really, that was bloody awful last night.

Hopefully Ryan Nelsen isn't so scarred from his sacking at Toronto FC that he abandons a career in football management.