All Whites midfielder Ryan Thomas is back in the national squad for the first time in six years, after a run of injuries that at times had him considering retirement.
Returning All White on the drastic steps needed to repair his knees
All Whites midfielder Ryan Thomas is back in the national squad for the first time in six years, after a run of injuries that at times had him considering retirement.
Thomas required surgery that involved deliberately breaking bone to correct alignment problems in his knees, a drastic intervention that followed repeated setbacks and long spells on the sideline. He has been open about how close he came to walking away, describing tears and days where he knew a problem was waiting for him at training.
The 30-year-old, who plays in the Dutch top flight, returns for the series against Australia with a noticeably different outlook, saying he now carries little stress on the pitch and is simply glad to be on it.
For a squad building towards next year's World Cup, his availability adds experience in midfield and a story the younger players in camp are unlikely to forget.
Greyhound Racing New Zealand chief executive Edward Rennell says the sport is facing a sobering final week, as New Zealand prepares to end commercial greyhound racing from Saturday.
Karin Burger and the Silver Ferns have passed their first major Commonwealth Games test in Glasgow, beating Jamaica 53-48 and ending a difficult run against the Sunshine Girls.
All Blacks assistant coach Tana Umaga says Ireland will arrive at Eden Park without fear next Saturday, putting New Zealand's long unbeaten run at the ground under a sharper spotlight.