Joe Porter

Defending Olympic K1 200m champion Lisa Carrington spearheads the NZ kayaking team, which includes the first K4 crew in 24 years.

Sports Call - Coach Steve Hansen has every right to be happy after the All Blacks passed their first test of the post World Cup era with flying colours, writes Joe Porter.

All Blacks wing Julian Savea is "bogged down" mentally and needs time to recapture his form at last year's World Cup, his coach says.

The first All Blacks squad of the year was named yesterday, with several new players and a 'bolter' among the 32 chosen.

ANALYSIS: The All Blacks usher in a new era on Sunday when coach Steve Hansen names his first squad since the exodus of several leading players.