Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney has no intention of using Sonny Bill Williams as a five-eighth at this year's World Cup, even though the rugby league world is marvelling at his ability to flourish in the halves.

Comparisons were made at the 2011 World Cup but now they seem much more real. Is George North this era's Jonah Lomu?

I can only wonder, given the New Zealand team's selections for this round, who is singing off which hymn sheet.

The British and Irish Lions are set to share a jackpot of £2.3 million ($4.6 million) if Warren Gatland's side clinch the series against Australia in Melbourne.

These All Blacks can do anything, it seems, except the one thing they really want - which is to back up big performances with equally big performances.

The lingering whiff of the 38-21 loss to England last December still festers among the All Blacks.

Not for the first time Folau was attempting to prove to new team-mates at a pre-season training session that he had the skills to play their code of "footie".

There are six weeks until the All Blacks play again. Gregor Paul details 10 things coach Steve Hansen would no doubt like to see and not like to see between now and August 17.

A big factor in why the Chiefs looked a vastly improved side in the last 30 minutes of their victory over the Hurricanes in Hamilton can be found in one significant second-half substitution.

George Smith isn't in the Wallabies for the second test with the Lions, and that's a big mistake, writes Wynne Gray.

Richie McCaw - your country still needs you, writes Chris Rattue. I've long believed that the great one has covered up fairly serious deficiencies in New Zealand rugby and the series against France has done nothing to dispel the theory.

It's been a worthwhile series against the French but I still have a worry nagging away at me about the development of our players.

Contentment rather than elation flooded the All Black camp last night. Their ability to emerge triumphant against what they felt was the best French performance of the series was being cherished.

As Steve Hansen picks over the remains of this untidy All Blacks performance, he can at least comfort himself with the fact that he is more aware of several things about his players.

A handful of rugby players are born into Lionhood and the very best of them, the creme de la creme, grow to their fullest size in the red jersey. Brian O'Driscoll is among that number.

The dominant theme of the June series has been the Smiths - Aaron, Conrad and Ben - a trio whose value to the national game goes way beyond the respectively increasingly important roles they play for the All Blacks.

Asked on the Lions trip to South Africa four years ago what touring qualities galvanised such a group and spurred team unity, Brian O'Driscoll offered a simple explanation.

For Wyatt Crockett, this week represents a victory, if not a breakthrough.

Within seconds of Lions manager Andy Irvine finishing his first test team announcement, journalists' fingers were hitting laptop keys to file that news.

The result of the Lions series hinges on the outcome of tomorrow's first test in Brisbane. A week ago with the Lions rolling though Australia unbeaten and playing a fantastic brand of rugby, I would have picked them for that first test if not the series.

On the day it was announced that Rene Ranger would start his first test for the All Blacks in three years, the Blues player finally confirmed his move to French club Montpellier.

A series win against the Lions will be a massive fillip for Robbie Deans' coaching longevity with the Wallabies.

Auditions for the Wallabies and Lions series are done - now for the main acts.

The series in the bag, the All Blacks will shift their emphasis to preparing for the future this week which is why Ben Smith is likely to be picked at centre.

All Black coach Steve Hansen refuses to enter the debate over claims by former Australia coach Bob Dwyer that New Zealand-coached teams cheat.

French coach Philippe Saint-Andre is now absorbing the pain he inflicted on the All Blacks 19 years ago.

There was a try from the end of the world but Sam Whitelock stole the show in Christchurch.

Richie McCaw said an interesting thing about Kieran Read this week.

There was a time when it was best not to mention the All Blacks lineout around Steve Hansen. In 2009, it was a sick-looking thing, an almost contagious element of the All Blacks that infected all those who went near it.