ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
The All Blacks have called on extra firepower as they take on Australia in the semifinal of the Rugby World Cup in Auckland on Sunday.
Wellington wing Hosea Gear and the Chiefs’ playmaker Stephen Donald have been summoned in following injuries to star All Blacks Daniel Carter and his replacement Colin Slade, and also centurion fullback Mils Muliaina.
The match, at Eden Park at 9pm on Sunday, is seen as much as a “final” in expectation of the intense rivalry between the trans-Tasman neighbours. The Wallabies downed a gallant Springboks side 11-9 in their hard-fought quarterfinal.
The other semifinal will be contested between Wales and France at Eden Park on Saturday at 9pm. Wales beat Ireland 22-10 in their quarterfinal.
One interesting fact is that out of the three semifinalists, three of the teams are coached by Kiwis – Graham Henry (New Zealand); Robbie Deans (Australia); and Warren Gatland (Wales).
While France has only been impressive in their quarterfinal against England, the rampant Wales side is seen as favourite to reach the final.
Even three of the Wallabies players are also Kiwis – playmaker Quade Cooper (Tokoroa); young wing James O’Connor (Auckland) and Iowane Digby (Auckland).
However, flanker Matt Todd is also in Auckland training with the All Blacks as fears over skipper Richie McCaw's fitness continue.
There was no sign of McCaw during the final 15 minutes of All Blacks training at Waitakere Trusts Stadium in Auckland open to media but it is understood he trained lightly with the team for some of the session.
His short training time and the fact that Canterbury and Crusaders open side specialist Todd is in Auckland attending sessions will increase concerns ahead of Sunday's World Cup semifinal against Australia at Eden Park.
Todd's presence is also an insurance against further mishaps among the other loose forwards. There are question marks over the fitness of Adam Thomson, who is recovering from an ankle injury and didn't make the match-day 22 for the Argentina game, and No8 Kieran Read has played only two games at this tournament due to an ankle injury which he carried into it.
McCaw has been in pain for several months after having a screw inserted into a bone in his right foot at the start of the year. The injury forced him to pull out of the Canada pool game, and he was also a late scratching from the Japan pool game due to a calf injury.
The All Blacks have called on extra firepower as they take on Australia in the semifinal of the Rugby World Cup in Auckland on Sunday. Wellington wing Hosea Gear and the Chiefs’ playmaker Stephen Donald have been summoned in following injuries to star All Blacks Daniel Carter and his replacement...
The All Blacks have called on extra firepower as they take on Australia in the semifinal of the Rugby World Cup in Auckland on Sunday.
Wellington wing Hosea Gear and the Chiefs’ playmaker Stephen Donald have been summoned in following injuries to star All Blacks Daniel Carter and his replacement Colin Slade, and also centurion fullback Mils Muliaina.
The match, at Eden Park at 9pm on Sunday, is seen as much as a “final” in expectation of the intense rivalry between the trans-Tasman neighbours. The Wallabies downed a gallant Springboks side 11-9 in their hard-fought quarterfinal.
The other semifinal will be contested between Wales and France at Eden Park on Saturday at 9pm. Wales beat Ireland 22-10 in their quarterfinal.
One interesting fact is that out of the three semifinalists, three of the teams are coached by Kiwis – Graham Henry (New Zealand); Robbie Deans (Australia); and Warren Gatland (Wales).
While France has only been impressive in their quarterfinal against England, the rampant Wales side is seen as favourite to reach the final.
Even three of the Wallabies players are also Kiwis – playmaker Quade Cooper (Tokoroa); young wing James O’Connor (Auckland) and Iowane Digby (Auckland).
However, flanker Matt Todd is also in Auckland training with the All Blacks as fears over skipper Richie McCaw's fitness continue.
There was no sign of McCaw during the final 15 minutes of All Blacks training at Waitakere Trusts Stadium in Auckland open to media but it is understood he trained lightly with the team for some of the session.
His short training time and the fact that Canterbury and Crusaders open side specialist Todd is in Auckland attending sessions will increase concerns ahead of Sunday's World Cup semifinal against Australia at Eden Park.
Todd's presence is also an insurance against further mishaps among the other loose forwards. There are question marks over the fitness of Adam Thomson, who is recovering from an ankle injury and didn't make the match-day 22 for the Argentina game, and No8 Kieran Read has played only two games at this tournament due to an ankle injury which he carried into it.
McCaw has been in pain for several months after having a screw inserted into a bone in his right foot at the start of the year. The injury forced him to pull out of the Canada pool game, and he was also a late scratching from the Japan pool game due to a calf injury.
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