It's time commercially focused leaders tackled the issue of growing their sport without flogging the talent.

The Kiwis rolled back the years in the World Cup final, evoking depressing days past as they failed to fire a shot and were chewed up by the Aussies, writes Chris Rattue.

It's a risk but I like it. I've been crying out for a wrist spinner and Ish Sodhi has got my hopes up. More importantly, he appears to have the trust of the selectors.

Shaun Johnson looms as the most important player for the Kiwis in Sunday morning's World Cup final, writes Richie Barnett.

Aussie league's errant players have an amazing sense of irony, starting with the poster boys who come unstuck, writes Chris Rattue. Christmas Day is a sitter for an incident.

Only those All Blacks who saved their season in Dublin understand the spirit of that survival, writes Wynne Gray.

Let the post mortems begin on what was almost the most shocking of results.

The Kiwis pulled off a World Cup stunner to sneak past England but their last-gasp semifinal win at Wembley doesn't give huge confidence for the final against Australia.

It's a great time to be a young hooker or a front rower because there are places opening up in the All Black environment.

The All Black team to play Ireland highlights two major elements - how settled they are with their squad and how much depth they have developed.

McKinnon's retirement came courtesy of that bloodied, bruising bout with Berridge, marketed as a grudge match and having every appearance of being so.

Defeat at this stage of the tournament would mean a failed campaign, but I'm confident the Kiwis will beat England in their World Cup semifinal.

Here's a phrase most of us could quite happily never hear again: Global Rugby Season.

Ditch the talk about justice for the All Blacks, enterprise against intimidation or revenge for last year's stumble at Twickenham, writes Wynne Gray.

When I was a kid things were so much easier: Wright, Edgar, Reid, Crowe M, Crowe J, Coney, Hadlee, Smith, Cairns, Bracewell, Chatfield ... that was the NZ cricket team.

Departing with dignity is not always easy to do. But Ricki Herbert should do it.

It was ludicrous. Blokes in suits who either played the game a lifetime ago or never even went near it, trying to determine what is best for the modern player, writes Gregor Paul.

The long overdue facelift to the netball world championships format won't go far enough in many eyes.

The moment of truth may have arrived for a great All Black because Daniel Carter was a shadow of his former self in Paris, writes Chris Rattue.

Margins between top international sides are not great, especially if there is a shift in mental application.

France were tough, resilient, creative and intensive and yet they might turn out to be a walk in the park compared with playing England.