Stories by Joe Porter

The Kiwis' blood is in the water and the Fijians are circling.

While not a test, Sunday's clash between the All Blacks and Barbarians holds plenty of intrigue, with a couple of big names seeking redemption.

It's finals weekend in the domestic rugby competition, and there's pride to be restored, scores to be settled and history to be made.

Sports Call - This year's Rugby Championship was about as exciting as watching grass grow. Joe Porter ponders what's gone wrong with the Southern Hemisphere's flagship competition.

The All Blacks are bracing for their biggest challenge of the Rugby Championship so far - taking on the resurgent Springboks in tomorrow's top-of-the-table clash in Albany.

The Barretts are back in Taranaki for the All Blacks clash with Argentina and are "fizzing" at the chance to play together in their home region, which is tickled pink to have its favourite sons back. Audio

Tension between the All Blacks and the Lions has ratcheted up heading into the final test, following Sonny Bill Williams' red card. Audio

Sports Call - Those poor Brits (with a sprinkling of Irishmen) won't win a test Joe Porter predicts saying you can put your money on the Lions getting beaten by a super side.

It's almost 50 years since the British and Irish Lions beat the All Blacks in a series.

Super Rugby is set for a shake-up, with several teams facing the chop and SANZAAR expected to announce their decision this week.

Sports Call - Super Rugby needs an urgent update, because last weekend's yellow card incident is a sign of a competition in trouble, writes RNZ rugby reporter Joe Porter.

Super Rugby starts tonight and the clash of the New Zealand coaches will garner plenty of interest this season.

It used to be one of the must do events on the Wellington sporting and social calendar.

The Wellington Sevens kick off this weekend, but is the iconic event on its death bed? Or can it re-invent itself in time to save its life?

The All Blacks are in Dublin with revenge on their minds.

Dynamic All Black flanker Ardie Savea gets his best chance to lay claim to Richie McCaw's vacated crown tomorrow night and usurp Sam Cane as the openside heir apparent.

Sports Call - This week the International Olympic Committee stopped short of handing Russia a blanket ban from next month's Olympics, so how clean can we expect the Rio Games to be? Audio

Defending Olympic K1 200m champion Lisa Carrington spearheads the NZ kayaking team, which includes the first K4 crew in 24 years.

Sports Call - Coach Steve Hansen has every right to be happy after the All Blacks passed their first test of the post World Cup era with flying colours, writes Joe Porter.

All Blacks wing Julian Savea is "bogged down" mentally and needs time to recapture his form at last year's World Cup, his coach says.

The first All Blacks squad of the year was named yesterday, with several new players and a 'bolter' among the 32 chosen.

ANALYSIS: The All Blacks usher in a new era on Sunday when coach Steve Hansen names his first squad since the exodus of several leading players.