As much as I despise the way India has used its strength to manipulate world cricket to suit itself, I immensely respect the quality of the Indian cricketers.

There's a lot riding on these World Cup finals qualifiers, beginning with the high-altitude clash in Mexico in seven days time, writes Chris Rattue.

Peter Fatialofa was a larrikin and a leader, someone who was able to merge those traits in his own delightful way, writes Wynne Gray.

France, forever touted as an All Black nemesis, are nothing of the sort, writes Gregor Paul. Their record against NZ is fairly dire.

Until the weekend I was wedged somewhere between ambivalence and bemusement when it came to the Rugby League World Cup.

Issac Luke is a marvel, writes Chris Rattue. The little Kiwis league hooker tormented France, as he has done to NRL defences throughout the year.

A messy game and some messed up their reputations a little but the All Blacks are lucky to have opportunities like this to help develop players. They'll take a bit out of that.

The All Blacks will be heading into an interesting foreign environment when they arrive on their northern tour - the stoush over the future of club rugby in Europe.

How much interest this current tour of Bangladesh has been generating is debatable. It's not been one of the more eye-catching, nor, anticipated series our team has been involved in.

South African rugby is crying foul and threatening to hold its mates to ransom, only this time with a little more feeling, writes Chris Rattue. Maybe it is not an idle threat on this occasion.

"Twenty professional cricketers have used mental health support programmes recently, and a clinical psychologist says more are waiting to be seen."

Just as in her smooth, unrushed golf swing, Lydia Ko's timing off the course has been impeccable.

At high school, Sam Kasiano was "heaps" lighter. It's a relative concept, given he was still 110kg, but his sheer size is what stood out.

John Kirwan comes across with such relentless positivity that it's easy to see the good things about Ma'a Nonu's return to the Blues, but even he must know his about-turn on the wandering midfielder comes with big risks.

Sinking money into sport is always a tough sell for governments, writes Dana Johannsen. No matter what reports they produce that point to tangible and intangible benefits to the country, opponents can always come with a list of more worthy causes.

McCaw will lead the campaign to Europe but the heat is on his playing position - make no mistake - particularly if there are more injury breakdowns, writes Chris Rattue.

The blow torch is seriously on the spin bowlers in this next test against Bangladesh.

All you have to do to understand how deeply entrenched drug-taking is in sport is to go to Google. Type in "fake penises for drugs testing" and up comes a website called Detox For Less, selling a US$150 Whizzinator.

It's probably not too much of a stretch to suggest this is the most important match of Jeremy Thrush's career, writes Patrick McKendry.

We have to wander back to 2001 when test rugby was still played at Carisbrook to find a Wallaby test win against the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Chris Rattue asks:"Is Ben Smith really the next All Black centre, or is this a case of wishful thinking by the selectors, who have been left in a hole by their Super 15 teams?"