All Blacks' 'Mr Fix It' Richard Kahui reminded everybody of his utility value and attacking brilliance with a 50-metre solo burst that saw him score the last try on Carisbrook in the 42-9 Steinlager Series demolition of Wales.

It is a memory he will treasure, but more pleasing was a return to confidence after an indifferent Super 14 where Chiefs coach Ian Foster benched his star-midfielder on two occasions in a bid to inspire his stuttering attacking game.

Looking fantastic in a team that lost eight of its 12 games was not an easy prospect and Kahui's struggles were more a reflection of the Chief's deterioration than his own failings.

Never one to shelve criticism, Kahui saw it differently.

"I don't attribute my lack of success on attack to the team," Kahui told Sportal before the Chiefs final match with the Blues. "There's opportunities I haven't taken."

Low on confidence, restricted by niggling injuries and frustrated at a lack of possession, Kahui was not surprised at his demotion.

"It wasn't a surprise. I felt there were grounds for me to be sitting on the bench," he said. "I hadn't got my game going. He [Foster] sat me down and said he was looking for ways to get me excited and reignite my attack. That meant sitting me out for 60 minutes."

But the All Blacks coaches know form is temporary, class is permanent and therefore had no hesitation in selecting Kahui for the June Tests, primarily to see if he could step up to the vacant second five-eighths slot left by injured incumbent Ma'a Nonu.

Kahui believed they took a 'punt' on him based on his Chiefs form.

Excited at his promotion to the bench for the second Test in Dunedin, he had mentally prepared for a midfield role but instead replaced the concussed Israel Dagg as Cory Jane shifted to fullback and Kahui slotted on the wing, where he has played the majority of his nine All Black's appearances.

"To be coming on the wing was a surprise," Kahui said. It was a bit of a fright at first, but it's somewhere I've played four or five Tests now so I felt comfortable once I got out there."

The modest 25-year-old said the hard yards were done by that stage.

"The way we played on attack allowed everyone to express themselves. When I got out there, the guys had worked hard and absorbed a lot of pressure for 50 minutes and it was time to have some fun," he said.

Kahui also saved a try when he sprinted back to stop Welsh wing Tom Pryide regathering his hack through.

With Dagg out, Conrad Smith in doubt after a poke in the eye and the selectors still to see whether Kahui can perform in the No.12 jersey, he could find himself anywhere in the backline on his home pitch this week.

"I'd like to think I can make it as a midfielder," the Tokoroa product said. "These legs aren't wingers' legs - they're a bit slow. I work my butt off on the wing. I enjoy playing anywhere, but my desire is to play somewhere in the midfield."

The Chiefs failed to win any of their matches in Hamilton this year and Kahui was keen to rectify the ledger.

"It hasn't been a good hunting ground for me this year, so it'd be nice to go back home and repay the loyal Waikato fans that turn out in their droves," he said.

Ireland Under-20 full-back/winger Andrew Conway has signed his first professional contract, while six other Academy graduates - Brendan Macken, Jack McGrath, Niall Morris, Rhys Ruddock, Paul Ryan and Eoin Sheriff - have each signed Development contracts with the senior set-up

In addition to these new contracts, versatile back Isa Nacewa has signed a new three-year deal with the province.

Leinster hope to complete one further back-five forward signing in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the province's coaching team has also been completed for the coming season.

Fresh from his involvement in Clermont Auvergne's Bouclier de Brennus success, Joe Schmidt takes over as head coach in a new coaching team which will include Jono Gibbes as forwards coach and Richie Murphy, whose role has been expanded to incorporate skills as well as kicking responsibilities.

Former Leinster and Ireland scrum half Guy Easterby takes over the position of team manager following his involvement with the province's British & Irish Cup and 'A' teams in recent years, thus ensuring continuity in the new coaching ticket.

Ex-New Zealand prop Greg Feek has signed a deal to become the Leinster squad's consultant scrum coach.

Capped 10 times for the All Blacks between 1999 and 2001, the former Taranaki, Canterbury and Tasman front rower has been forwards coach for the Wellington Hurricanes since 2008.

Leinster Chief Executive Mick Dawson commented: "I am delighted to welcome our new signings on board and I'm confident that each will make a significant impression on the squad both next season and in the years ahead.

"All of the players come with impressive pedigrees and they will supplement a squad which has been further bolstered by six Academy players who have signed Development contracts with the province.

"We are delighted by the talent coming through the Academy system and it is encouraging both for Leinster and Irish rugby that such a strong crop of underage talent are being rewarded in the next step in their careers.

"It is an exciting time for the province and I would like to formally acknowledge the significant impact of our departing coaches and backroom team members. We wish them well with their future careers."

He added: "Greg Feek joins the province having accrued impressive playing and coaching credentials in New Zealand and he will supplement a coaching team which will draw on the experience of Jono, Richie and Guy, who have all been involved in the senior set-up over the last two years, while Joe joins us after guiding Clermont to the French Championship."

In a further boost, Leinster have announced record sales of over 12,500 Season Tickets for the new season.

In 2005 there was 2,700 Leinster Season Tickets holders and this had increased to over 7,500 with the move to the RDS for the 2007/08 season when Leinster lifted the Magners League title. Last year's Heineken Cup win boosted figures to 10,800.

Leinster will face London Wasps in a pre-season friendly at Donnybrook in an evening game on Friday, August 20, and travel to England to face Leicester Tigers at Welford Road a week later on Saturday, August 28.

LEINSTER Squad (2010/11 Season):

Backs (17) - Shaun Berne, Isaac Boss, Andrew Conway, Gordon D'Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan, David Kearney, Rob Kearney, Brendan Macken *, Fergus McFadden, Niall Morris *, Isa Nacewa, Paul O'Donohoe, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin O'Malley, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton.

Forwards (22) - Leo Cullen, John Fogarty, Jason Harris-Wright, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Nathan Hines, Trevor Hogan, Shane Jennings, Stephen Keogh, Ronan McCormack, Jack McGrath *, Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, Ed O'Donoghue, Mike Ross, Rhys Ruddock *, Paul Ryan *, Eoin Sheriff *, Richardt Strauss, Devin Toner, Heinke van der Merwe, Stan Wright.

* Denotes Development Contract

AAP

And if Genia can guide the battle-scarred Reds to a Super 14 upset of the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday night, it will provide a further shake on incumbent Rocky Elsom's hold on the position.

Injuries to influential vice-captain Daniel Braid, three of their tight-five and a 32-12 loss to the Brumbies has left the Genia-led young Queenslanders vulnerable at Westpac Stadium.

The importance of the penultimate round match between the fourth-placed Reds and seventh-placed Canes has seen a local newspaper dub the encounter a "virtual test match".

Such games make selectors sit up and take extra notice and Genia is confident they can end an 11-year drought in Wellington.

"It's just another challenge in our season and one we're looking forward to overcoming," he said in Wellington.

Genia's ability and nous in the high-stakes clash won't be ignored, especially with David Nucifora saying Elsom was no guarantee of retaining the Test captaincy this season.

The ARU high-performance manager and test selector also revealed Genia was among the contenders for the job.

"He's done a good job with Queensland, to inherit it early in the year," Nucifora said on Fox Sports' Rugby Club.

"He's a guy who leads by what he does on the field - he's certainly put his hand up and would be in consideration no doubt.

Nucifora admitted Elsom had been below his best following a hectic past 24 months where he's played back-to-back seasons for the NSW Waratahs, Wallabies, Munster, and now the Brumbies.

"He's played a lot of football Rocky in the last two years and you are going to have times where you are flat and I would be more than hopeful Rocky is going to come good at the right time," he said

The underdog Reds hopes received a shot in the arm on Thursday morning with All Blacks centre Conrad Smith ruled out due to series of recent head knocks and replaced by little-known Jason Kawau.

While the home side boasts test backs Ma'a Nonu, Cory Jane and Piri Weepu, it is Smith who is the glue who holds their backline together.

"I think he's very important player for them in organising their backs," said Reds coach Ewen McKenzie. "He makes a big difference when he's there."

Smith joins flanker Victor Vito (calf) on the sidelines. Vito's loss has seen a pack reshuffle but the home side retains three starting All Blacks, including No 8 Rodney So'oialo who plays his 100th Super rugby match.

McKenzie has given a grateful Andrew Shaw a big shot at a new contract by selecting him as Braid's replacement at openside flanker ahead of Jake Schatz and Lei Tomiki.

The Reds also need former Wallabies lock Radike Samo, with just three Sydney club games behind him, to step up alongside lineout general Van Humphries.

By MARC HINTON - Stuff

Last updated 16:09 06/05/2010

Nonu was today given an official NZRU "reprimand" for his foul-mouthed post-game radio interview following last Saturday's emotional 33-27 win over the Chiefs in the capital.

But his Hurricanes, and All Blacks, team-mate Cory Jane has provided an emphatic endorsement of the midfielder's value for the Wellington franchise who have worked their way into the thick of the playoff race ahead of Friday night's pivotal clash against the Queensland Reds in Wellington.

In fact, Jane just doesn't get the whole anti-Nonu brigade that seems to exist, uber-critical of every wrong move the power-packed second five-eighths makes.

As the Hurricanes cling to their Super 14 semifinal lifeline, still kicking in the race with just a fortnight left in the regular season, Jane has underlined Nonu's standing as easily the pre-eminent No 12 in the New Zealand game.

The dreadlocked second five was simply brilliant at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night as he scored two blockbusting tries to propel the Canes to that knife-edged victory over the Chiefs.

That five-pointer lifted the Hurricanes within two points of the top four and in with a royal chance of gatecrashing the post-season party over the next fortnight.

But then after the match came naughty Nonu, the experienced All Black unleashing a profanity-laden response in a live radio interview that landed him in hot water with the team.

Nonu publicly apologised earlier this week for his language and confirmed that he'd been subjected to some inter-squad "discipline" because of it. He dropped the F-bomb seven times in the course of the short interview.

Coach Colin Cooper said it had been made clear to Nonu that his comments were not acceptable, while Nonu himself apologised to his young fans who may have heard the interview.

Clearly Nonu, who's not always the most enthusiastic of interview subjects, was in an emotional mood after the match - and why not after his star turn inspired a lifeline victory for his side?

Ill-judged rants aside, Jane can't understand why Nonu inspires so much criticism from the game's pundits who seem to turn a blind eye to his many virtues.

In fact, among Jane's post-game tweets last weekend was the immortal line: "Can all Ma'a Nonu-haters now please run a bath, get in, throw in the toaster. Thanks."

Jane gave a slightly more reasoned response to those who don't appreciate the Canes No 12's unique mix of talent when he spoke with stuff.co.nz this week.

"People from outside, with an untrained eye, see people tackling him all the time, or that he hasn't made yards because 10 people are bloody tackling him. So people see he hasn't made a line-break or hasn't done this, so he's played bad, where really he's freeing it up for other people.

"Everybody is attracted to him because he's so big and if you give him a bit of room he's going to break you.

"His form hasn't always been the best but you see when he fires, like at the weekend, he's unstoppable. Even when the team isn't playing too well, he's just one man and he's done all that by himself.

"Especially standing at the back watching that stuff, it's pretty bloody good to see," added Jane.

But Jane is the first to admit that the injury-enforced splitting of the Nonu-Conrad Smith combination this week is going to put a huge onus on the rest of the Canes backline to step up.

Smith was a late withdrawal from the Canes lineup because of a head knock picked up last week.

"They just work so well together - Ma'a is a great runner, so powerful, and Conrad  just reads everything. There are not many people who can get round him.

"But we've got other good players in the backs who can do their job as well and we just need do it as a team instead of relying on them all the time. Then we can be something special."

Jane also paid a personal tribute to No 8 Rodney So'oialo who will play his 100th match for the Hurricanes on Friday night.

"He's unbelievable, man," said Jane. "They showed a video clip of him earlier to the boys, and the amount of hits he takes... he always throws his body on the line, and is not afraid to get in and do the hard yards. He's been doing it for years, too.

"We owe it to him to go out play our best and help him get a win on his 100th game because it's a special moment for him."

Jane also confirmed the Hurricanes were enjoying their high-stakes sudden-death finish that's seen them dodge a few bullets as they've won three on the trot to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Last week they needed a late penalty miss from in front by Chiefs kicker Callum Bruce and an an even later Neemia Tialata try to complete an unlikely bonus-point win.

"We've still got something to fight for," said Jane. "This team has always believed. We just knew that if we stopped giving away stupid penalties which were hindering us, and making little mistakes, and started playing our game better and stopped doing dumb things, we'd be able to beat teams.

"A lot of people wrote us off but we kept believing in ourselves and we've still got chance this weekend."

May 6 2010 by jon doel, Western Mail

Phillips is relishing the prospect of resurrecting his duel with the world champions at the Millennium Stadium on June 5 after starring for the Lions in three brutal Tests last summer.

STACY SQUIRES/The Press

HELD BACK: Dan Carter is struggling for form and his Crusaders teammates are being asked to help him out.

The acid has been applied to Dan Carter's team-mates as the search continues for the No10's missing X factor.

Crusaders assistant coach Mark Hammett last night put the onus on other players to help Carter recapture his mojo as they prepare for Saturday morning's Super 14 match against the Bulls at Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld.

Having watched Carter save the Crusaders' bacon on countless occasions, the coaches are calling on his team-mates to repay a few favours against a formidable Bulls team who have won their last 17 matches at Fort Loftus and have already qualified for a semifinal.

Hammett said that whoever was standing outside Carter, whether it be from set play or second-phase, needed to take more responsibility by communicating and helping with his decision-making.

"DC [Dan Carter] is probably struggling for a wee bit of form, but believe it or not I believe it is a really good thing for him," Hammett said.

"In years gone by he's probably had the likes of Aaron Mauger [standing outside him] and when he's been playing for the All Blacks he's got an experienced group. He's got a very young group outside him [with the Crusaders] and while sometimes that's frustrating ... he's actually growing his game without realising it."

Hammett will be well aware that Carter must fire this weekend if the Crusaders are to snare an unlikely win on the high veldt and keep their play-off hopes alive.

"As a backline combination these young guys really need to start feeding information in and make sure they aren't just the ears to listen for what DC wants – because often at Super 14 level the speed of the game is too quick," Hammett said.

Even though he has not been in vintage form all season, Carter's recent performances in the defeats against the Stormers and Western Force were well below his best. Even when taking into account that his forwards have struggled, never has the world's best No10 been so out of form.

Among those required to ramp up their games, if they start, are midfielders Ryan Crotty and Robbie Fruean. The latter, especially, has struggled with his form.

In last weekend's 42-14 defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town the Crusaders struggled with their lineout and Ti'i Paulo will start because hooker Corey Flynn has been sent home with a sprained ankle.

While noting he was generally satisfied with how they negated the Stormers drives from lineouts, Hammett said his side's own lineout was not flash, but there would be plenty of work on it this week as they prepared to confront a Bulls set piece containing the Springboks' twin towers of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha. The Crusaders had battled to win their opening throws in recent matches, which eroded their confidence.

"I suppose the odd demon comes into the hooker's head and we may have a couple of pre-calls this week to get those first couple out of the road," Hammett said.

"We have great lineout forwards in Chris Jack, Brad Thorn and Kieran Read so there are plenty of options there. We just need to get everything working together. We are pretty sure we have got some pretty good options up our sleeve this week against Matfield and Botha."

One of world rugby's leaders of the game will celebrate a playing milestone this weekend with Crusaders and All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw set to play his 100th Super Rugby match.

McCaw, who has scored 22 tries so far in his Crusaders career, will join an exclusive club of 10 other New Zealand Super Rugby centurions: Tana Umaga, Justin Marshall, Anton Oliver, Caleb Ralph, Greg Somerville, Reuben Thorne, Doug Howlett, Leon MacDonald, Justin Collins and Keven Mealamu.

New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) Chief Executive Steve Tew said 100 games in one competition is a huge accomplishment.

“One hundred games in Super Rugby is a great achievement – but this milestone is particularly special because Richie has played all his Super Rugby for the Crusaders. I congratulate him on this fantastic new mark in his rugby career.

“Richie continues to set a fine example as an ambassador for the game both on and off the field, and wish him well for this weekend’s match,” Mr Tew said.

Crusaders Chief Executive Hamish Riach said they were proud to have a player of McCaw’s calibre remain loyal to the franchise.

“As both a player and leader, Richie has been an inspiration to the Crusaders’ campaigns and we’re incredibly proud that he is about to achieve his 100 matches in red and black Super Rugby colours,” he said.

A special presentation to mark his 100 Super Rugby caps will be made to McCaw after the Crusaders next home game against the Brumbies on 14 May.

The Irish management and captain Brian O'Driscoll have admitted that the new interpretations of the tackle law have been implemented indelicately in the Six Nations, stating that increasing the focus in the tackle area has only occurred "mid-championship."

This was done for a specific reason - to promote attacking rugby.

Lyndon Bray, SANZAR’s referee’s boss, was specific about the different approach. There were no changes as such, just a stricter view to both the tackle law and scrum engagement. Effectively it was designed to give the tackled player a little more protection.

Most applauded this, with some consensus being that the game had become too defensively orientated.

However some analysts in the North believe that the approach and new construal of the law, especially in regard to Law 15 (the tackle) has only been applied mid championship.

Ireland in their match against Wales were penalised 16 times. Nine times they were pinged at the tackle area, and two of those were against Captain Brian O’Driscoll.

There has clearly been a different focus, or at the very least a statistical trend that supports stricter enforcing of the laws. In round one there was 50 penalties blown in all three matches. In round three there were 60, and last week there were 68.

In round four, when it seemed clear that the sides were being watched more closely when affecting a tackle, an astonishing 32 penalties were conceded in the three games at the tackle and ruck area.

While some Six Nations sides are confused about this “sudden change” the IRB has stated that there has been no amendment or revision mid championship. There was reference to the IRB’s referee meetings in November of last year (held in London) where there was conformity regarding stricter diligence to the laws areas.

It is clear that the Super 14 has been the first competition to universally accept these new laws interpretations.

Ireland expressed their frustration via Irish manger Paul McNaughton, who spoke to the Irish times.

“The replies we’re getting are that it’s not a new law. We know that. They’re saying that the emphasis on this law was discussed after the November series. And there definitely was a briefing to the teams before the Super 14, letting them know that this law would be policed more strictly,” McNaughton said.

“The issue we had was that a similar approach wasn’t taken here. In the short-term, we would have adapted even if we didn’t agree with it. We would have had three weeks or so before the championship started to prepare. It’s not satisfactory that it has happened mid-championship.”

Ireland will now look to get on with business.

However, with the exception of their opening match against Italy, Ireland have been on the wrong side of every penalty count, losing (based on penalties given), 10-7 to France, 14-7 to England and 16-10 to Wales.

Brian O’Driscoll stood by Ireland’s statement that the laws had been applied halfway through the current Six Nations championship.

"There's no point in crying about it, though ideally you'd prefer something not to be changed midway through a tournament," he said.

"This is the way it's panned out and we'll have to deal with it like every other team in the competition.”

"Old habits die hard but it's our responsibility as professionals to make sure we correct the mistakes we made last weekend. We've been practising this week and looking at the video to make sure it doesn't happen again."

O’Driscoll and Irish team management said that the new interpretation was a massive change in the way that the game will be played in the future.

"The change in emphasis negates the strength of every team," O’Driscoll, who will play in his 101st test match against Scotland.

"When you've put many years into honing one skill and all of a sudden it's changed you have to go and practice a new skill. Now the rules have changed. Now we all have to poach balls in a different way."

THE LAW AS IT STANDS

15.4 THE TACKLER

(a) When a player tackles an opponent and they both go to ground, the tackler must
immediately release the tackled player.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(b) The tackler must immediately get up or move away from the tackled player and from the
ball at once.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(c) The tackler must get up before playing the ball and then may play the ball from any
direction.
Sanction: Penalty kick

15.5 THE TACKLED PLAYER

(a) A tackled player must not lie on, over, or near the ball to prevent opponents from gaining
possession of it, and must try to make the ball available immediately so that play can continue.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(b) A tackled player must immediately pass the ball or release it. That player must also get up
or move away from it at once.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(c) A tackled player may release the ball by putting it on the ground in any direction, provided this is done immediately.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(d) A tackled player may release the ball by pushing it along the ground in any direction except forward, provided this is done immediately.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(e) If opposition players who are on their feet attempt to play the ball, the tackled player must release the ball.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(f) If a tackled player’s momentum carries the player into the in-goal, the player can score a try or make a touch down.
(g) If a player is tackled near the goal line, that player may immediately reach out and ground the ball on or over the goal line to score a try or make a touch down.