New Zealand

The countdown until the naming of the All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad continues with Part 2 of the series which will hopefully provide some insights into what the squad looks like when named.

The All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad will be named shortly and while there is still some water to go under the bridge with some international rugby and Super Rugby matches, it is fun to try to predict the 31 man All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad.

New Zealand fly-half Aaron Cruden feels like he has been "struck down by a sniper" after discovering the extent of a knee injury that looks set to keep him out of this autumn's Rugby World Cup.

As the 2015 Rugby World Cup draws ever closer Mike Stanton continues to look at some of the best young players that could feature at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. This week it is New Zealand and recently signed Ulster full-back, Charles Piutau.

This week, Scott Donaldson hypothesises on a game between All Blacks based in NZ and their compatriots around the rugby world.

Perhaps the greatest strength of southern hemisphere rugby is that its flagship teams come into Rugby World Cup years with settled and complimentary XVs.

This afternoon the highly respected Chris Jones of BBC Rugby tweeted "The average Top 14 club budget at €21.2m, with €7.4m of that going to player wages last season". The expectation must be with the TV money from Canal + that figure will rise this season and again next season.

Munster have signed New Zealand international Francis Saili on a two-year deal.

Ulster have announced the signing of New Zealand international Charles Piutau.

The Highlanders picked up their first Super Rugby win of the season as they beat the Reds 20-13 in Dunedin.

A last-gasp penalty from New Zealand fly-half Aaron Cruden guided the Chiefs to a 19-17 Super Rugby victory against the Brumbies earlier today.

Fly-halves are seemingly in the news every day. The wonderful creative folk at Guinness have produced a fitting tribute to Mr. J Wilkinson, which captures what he means to English rugby and now the French rugby public.

As we enter a World Cup year Mike Stanton takes a look at some of the best young players that could feature at the 2015 Rugby World Cup: Nathan Harris

London Irish have announced the signing of New Zealand World Cup winner Ben Franks.

Gloucester have announced the signing of New Zealand international lock Jeremy Thrush.

New Zealand star Dan Carter has announced he will join wealthy French club Racing Metro at the end of 2015 on a three-year contract.

Steve Hansen has signed a contract extension that will keep him at the helm of New Zealand until 2017.

New Zealand back-row colossus Kieran Read has targeted an improvement from the All Blacks at next year's World Cup.

All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick has been crowned this year's World Rugby player of the year.

There is plenty of rugby union for fans around the world to debate this coming weekend. Talking Rugby Union have shared several articles this week, centred on Stuart Lancaster and his England team.