Paul Cully05:00, Nov 23 2021
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/127059151/super-rugby-pacific-ten-unlucky-players-who-missed-out-on-contracts - Archive [1a] [1b]
Super Rugby clubs do the bulk of their recruitment and retention well before November, meaning that NPC performances aren’t a huge factor in the makeup of the squads.
However, that often leaves fans of provincial rugby scratching their heads as to why their favourite player has missed out.
All Blacks' precarious world ranking adds to uneasy summer
Stuff sports reporters07:19, Nov 23 2021
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/127067517/all-blacks-precarious-world-ranking-adds-to-uneasy-summer - Archive [2a] [2b]
The autumn internationals have been completed in Europe, and it’s been a costly exercise for Ian Foster’s All Blacks as they surrendered their No 1 ranking to world champions South Africa and now have third-placed England snapping at their heels, less than one point behind.
The consecutive losses to Ireland and France have hit hard and brought the spotlight on the All Blacks methods as the 2021 test season is completed.