New Zealand's preparations for the 2011 rugby World Cup begin in earnest in five weeks when it heads to the northern hemisphere for its end-of-season tour, according to coach Graham Henry.

A visibly angry Robbie Deans was disappointed his young Australia side "capitulated" in the last few minutes of the 33-6 Tri-Nations defeat by New Zealand on Saturday.

Australia has been left with the ignominy of taking out the Tri-Nations wooden spoon after a 33-6 hammering at the hands of the All Blacks in Wellington this evening.

Two spectators who attacked players at a Sydney rugby union final last weekend have been banned from the sport but had their penalties reduced in return for community service.

With the Tri-Nations title beyond reach, Saturday's finale between the All Blacks and Wallabies has become a desperate battle to avoid the ignominy of finishing last.

The radical shake-up of New Zealand's starting line-up for this week's Tri-Nations match against Australia emphasises that poor performances can no longer be tolerated, captain Richie McCaw said.

Retribution and achieving a crucial watershed victory is driving the Wallabies against an equally-desperate All Blacks in Wellington.

The All Blacks have made five changes to their team to play Australia in their attempt to avoid the Tri-Nations wooden spoon in their rugby Test in Wellington on Saturday.

New Zealand has delayed naming its squad for Saturday's final Tri-Nations match against Australia in Wellington, as it considers making changes in the wake of last weekend's loss to South Africa.

Australia has named an unchanged line-up to face New Zealand in Saturday night's final Tri-Nations encounter in Wellington.

World rugby's governing body has hailed the invitation extended to Argentina to join an expanded Tri-Nations series from 2012 as a "significant milestone" in the development of the sport.

French first division club Bayonne has pulled out of talks with dumped Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri because of his "latest financial demands".

Australia fly half Matt Giteau says the Wallabies are determined to prove their Tri-Nations win over South Africa was no fluke in this weekend's final match against New Zealand in Wellington.

Southern hemisphere rugby union chiefs have moved to revitalise the Tri-Nations series by handing Argentina a long-awaited invitation to form a "Four Nations" championship from 2012.

Springbok centre Jaque Fourie has been suspended for four weeks for a dangerous tackle in the closing stages of Saturday's Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks.

Springboks "rocket launcher" Francois Steyn stunned even his team-mates as his massive boot proved a key factor in their Tri-Nations clinching win over the All Blacks.

The Springboks held off a late All Blacks surge to narrowly win 32-29 and deny the New Zealanders their fifth successive Tri-Nations trophy at Waikato Stadium on Saturday evening.

Harlequins have been told they will face no further action from the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) over the fake blood scandal that rocked rugby.

New Zealand are primarily concerned with winning its Tri-Nations match against South Africa this weekend and not trying to get pre-occupied by adding a bonus point, captain Richie McCaw said.

Ewen McKenzie is at, or near, the top of a "long list" of candidates to be embattled Queensland's seventh Reds coach in a decade of turmoil.

Queensland Reds coach Phil Mooney has been axed after two seasons of his three-year deal with the Super 14 franchise.

The Springboks have slipped quietly into New Zealand, leaving their hosts to do the trash-talking this time as they finish their preparations for Saturday's Tri-Nations clash at Hamilton.

Never mind the result, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans just wants his young side to back up their brilliant Tri-Nations performance against South Africa with an even better showing against the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday week.

South Africa has called up Francois Steyn in the sole change to its side to counter the threat from New Zealand's Dan Carter in their crucial Tri-Nations rugby clash in Hamilton on Saturday.