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Autumn internationals: All Blacks still top but southern powers feel Test fatigue | Paul Rees

New Zealand remain the yardstick but their flaws feed Lions’ hopes for next summer even though the settled order of the Six Nations is in need of a shake-upThe All Blacks remain at the top of the world rankings by a comfortable margin, but their defeat by Ireland in Chicago, which ended a record of 18 consecutive Test victories, gave the Lions succour before the tour next year. New Zealand’s next Test is against the Lions on 24 June in the first of three and if they remain comfortable favourites to win the series, Ireland showed in two matches against them that they can crack under pressure. Related: Ireland clinch first ever win over All Blacks to end New Zealand's record...

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Bonus points experiment can enliven Six Nations with sense of positivity | Robert Kitson

Rewarding attacking play, even in an otherwise lost cause, can bring relevance to mid-table encounters and shows rare and welcome flexibility from the organisersChange in rugby union rarely happens quickly. It is more than two decades since try bonus points were first introduced in New Zealand provincial rugby and 13 years since they first featured at a Rugby World Cup. The Six Nations committee’s decision to break belatedly with tradition and give them a whirl in 2017 is a bit like your grandfather joining Twitter. Related: Six Nations to trial bonus points in 2017 competition for first time Related: Mike Brown plays minder to England’s maverick wing Jonny May Continue reading...

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