The big All Blacks wing is looking for a start against Ireland in the side's first test in New Plymouth.

All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu expects to be playing his rugby in NZ next season so he can continue to chase his World Cup dream.

The Maori Party will go to Parliament seeking an apology from the Government for the exclusion of Maori players from the All Black tours to apartheid-era South Africa.

More than 600,000 RWC tickets have been applied for in the first phase of sales, with strong interest from overseas.

Matt Giteau plans to take the pressure off new Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper in Canberra on Saturday.

Aaron Cruden's meteoric rise to the All Blacks has been applauded by his provincial rugby coach.

Two players have been plucked from the provinces for the New Zealand Maori rugby team's centenary matches next month.

Rugby writer Wynne Gray tries to read Graham Henry's mind, with the All Black coach naming his 2010 squad tomorrow.

Richard Kahui and Mils Muliaina are the latest casualties in a list of players unable to front for New Zealand's first test of the season.

NZ must not get hung up on the performance of the All Blacks or they could miss out on the opportunity from hosting the World Cup, warns Martin Snedden.

PM John Key says an apology to Maori rugby players excluded from All Blacks tours to South Africa is a matter between unions.

All Black greats Sid Going and Dave Loveridge would reinstall Jimmy Cowan as halfback for the June tests.

Top 10-ranked rugby nations Scotland and Fiji will not make another tour of NZ until at least the next decade.