Laumape looks the part for the All Blacks
Ngani Laumape became the 26th Manawatu player to score a try for the All Blacks in the side’s 15-all draw with the British and Irish Lions on Saturday night.
Starting his first test at No 12, Laumape was on the board 15 minutes into the game after Jordie Barrett knocked back a Beauden Barrett cross-field kick.
Laumape returned the favour to the younger Barrett when he unleashed an impressive offload to set up the All Blacks’ second try
He almost had a second try when Beauden Barrett picked up an intercept.
Mouthing off
With the knockout stages of club rugby around the corner, referees are taking a hard line on mouth guards.
Some players have been treating them as optional this year, but they were reminded on Saturday that mouthguards were compulsory for safety reasons.
Kia Toa learnt the hard way when wing Malua Mauola was yellow carded in their senior A match.
No Central games
Central won’t get to see their top hockey players in the National Hockey League at home this year.
There won’t be any pretournament NHL games this year, with the whole tournament to be in Wellington in September.
That means there won’t be a round of matches at a Central venue, such as Palmerston North .
Both the Mavericks men and Mysticks women are looking solid in the early season.