All Blacks

The All Blacks will wear a special tribute to the late Sir Colin Meads on their jerseys tomorrow night - an extra emotional touchstone which increases the significance of the test against the Wallabies.

Five Highlanders have been named in the All Blacks Rugby Championship squad, while several high-profile players have been left out.

This Lions series deserved a big finale, which it certainly got with referee Romain Poite's decision in the final minute to change his mind on a penalty for the All Blacks.

There haven't been scenes of such an intense nature since the 2011 World Cup.

A late penalty gave the British and Irish Lions a victory over 14-man New Zealand in the second test, to level up the series at 1-1 ahead of next week's final clash.

Sonny Bill Williams has become the first All Black to be sent off since 1967.

The All Blacks played their usual triple threat game and produced all their expected spark and flair, but so too did the Lions.

There was mixed news for southern fans when the All Black squad for the World Cup was named at Parliament last night.

Banned All Blacks hooker and Highlanders captain Andrew Hore has been subjected to "ignorant" comment and has endured the longest week of his life, two of the men closest to him say.

As much as individual brilliance bubbles through the All Blacks, it is the team ethos which creates their momentum.

Not only did Forsyth Barr Stadium get the thumbs up from the All Blacks, the rugby test against the Springboks on Saturday was great for the Dunedin retail and hospitality sector, with many tills ringing red-hot over the weekend.

Gibbston teenager Sophie Newbold celebrates her 18th birthday with All Black captain Richie McCaw at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Friday during the captain's run, before the side's win over South Africa on Saturday night.

Aaron Smith thought some of his Highlanders team-mates were playing a prank when he received a text message from All Black manager Darren Shand on Sunday night.