Dan Carter has returned to his favoured first five position and Richie McCaw will pack down at No 8 when the Crusaders take on the Blues in Christchurch on Saturday night.

Blues coach Pat Lam has hit out at the New Zealand Herald, saying it “crossed the line” by sending a reporter and photographer to his Auckland home last night.

Quade Cooper will make his long-awaited return from injury when the Reds take on the Lions in Brisbane on Saturday night.

First five Beauden Barrett will start from the bench when the Hurricanes take on the Brumbies in Wellington on Friday night.

Tabai Matson will coach Canterbury in this year’s ITM Cup.

Hurricanes lock Jason Eaton has re-signed with Taranaki for two more years.

The Otago Rugby Union has been saved after the Dunedin City Council agreed to bailout the cash-strapped union.

Chiefs wing Lelia Masaga has re-signed with Bay of Plenty for the coming season.

The International Rugby Board has agreed to hand out a bigger slice of the Rugby World Cup revenue pie in what is being hailed as a major boon for the SANZAR nations and Argentina.

Teams with the tallest backs and the heaviest and most experienced forwards tend to win the Rugby World Cup, according to a French study.

Wallabies great David Campese has slammed Robbie Deans and has called for Ewen McKenzie to replace him as Australian coach.

Former England skipper Lewis Moody has countered reports that he put commercial gain before his playing duties at the Rugby World Cup.

The selection of uncapped Crusaders duo Luke Romano and Luke Whitelock and the omission of Rugby World Cup winners Zac Guildford and Corey Flynn are the talking points of the All Blacks’ wider training squad.

Fourie du Preez is available for Springboks selection, but is urging coach Heyneke Meyer to pick Francois Hougaard instead.

There is a possibility that Dan Carter may play second five for the All Blacks if his troublesome groin fails to come right.

James O’Connor could miss the Wallabies’ June tests against Scotland and Wales due to a rib injury.