World champions New Zealand were challenged for 50 minutes but still ran in six tries to beat Australia 37-10 in Auckland on Saturday to become the first top-tier nation to win 18 consecutive test matches.

Australia have dropped fly-half Quade Cooper for Saturday’s test against New Zealand at Eden Park, where the All Blacks will be going for a record 18th successive test victory.

New Zealand have warned Australia they won’t let any provocation stand in the way of Saturday’s date with destiny when they hope to break the 47-year-old record for consecutive test wins.

Australia will be a “different beast” to the side that suffered back-to-back thrashings by the All Blacks in August when they line up for another clash at Eden Park on Saturday, according to flanker Jerome Kaino.

Forward David Pocock is optimistic of being fit after a month out with a broken hand as Australia look to halt the New Zealand’s bid for a world-record 18th consecutive test win on Saturday in the Bledisloe Cup meeting in at Eden Park in Auckland.

New Zealand scrum-half Aaron Smith has pulled out of the Bledisloe Cup test against Australia on Saturday after being found guilty of serious misconduct by a New Zealand Rugby employment panel.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said his side will need to be sharper when they return to face England in December after ending the Rugby Championship with a 33-21 win over Argentina at Twickenham.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen refused to get carried away after a 57-15 demolition of arch-rivals South Africa created two records and moved the All Blacks within one victory of another.

New Zealand have made four changes for their final Rugby Championship test against South Africa on Saturday, while retaining TJ Perenara at the expense of disgraced halfback Aaron Smith.

The All Blacks suspended halfback Aaron Smith on Thursday over a toilet tryst with a woman at a busy airport, in the latest scandal to hit the beleaguered New Zealand Rugby union.

Loose forward Jerome Kaino, centre George Moala and winger Waisake Naholo are likely to start in a much-changed New Zealand side for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against South Africa in Durban, coach Steve Hansen has suggested.

Champions New Zealand scored three late first half tries to set-up a 36-17 Rugby Championship triumph over Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Australia head to London for their final Rugby Championship test with renewed concerns about their back row after Sean McMahon suffered a “significant” ankle injury in the loss to South Africa in Pretoria.

Coach Allister Coetzee hailed skipper Adriaan Strauss and match-winner Morne Steyn after South Africa ground out an 18-10 Rugby Championship victory over Australia in Pretoria on Saturday.

Rookie loose forward Liam Squire will make his first test start as All Blacks coach Steve Hansen reinstated his policy of developing depth for the Rugby Championship clash with Argentina in Buenos Aires on Sunday morning (Hong Kong time).

Winger Sefa Naivalu and hooker Tolu Latu were on Thursday called into Australia’s squad for their Rugby Championship clashes against South Africa and Argentina next month.

New Zealand’s ability to seal the Rugby Championship with two rounds remaining highlighted the burgeoning gap between the world champions and the rest of the sides, though the team were not prepared to let their final games become footnotes.

Australia stunned Argentina with three tries in the opening 12 minutes but were forced to defend for much of the remainder of the Rugby Championship test before running out 36-20 winners at Perth Oval on Saturday.

Hooker Dane Coles gave a masterclass in backline playmaking to set-up three New Zealand tries as the world champions thrashed South Africa 41-13 to clinch the Rugby Championship title on Saturday.

South African skipper Adriaan Strauss has dismissed strident criticism of his underperforming side as he revealed a plan to unsettle New Zealand when they clash in Christchurch on Saturday.

A devastating late surge saw New Zealand pound dogged Argentina 57-22 in a frenetic Rugby Championship encounter at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday.

A devastating late surge saw New Zealand pound dogged Argentina 57-22 in a frenetic Rugby Championship encounter at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday.

Francois Hougaard has been selected on the wing as one of three changes in a revamped South African backline for their Rugby Championship test against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.

Michael Cheika bolstered Australia’s line-out as the Wallabies coach made two changes to the starting team for the Rugby Championship test against South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday.

Australia’s attempt to impose themselves with physical aggression in the second Bledisloe Cup match in Wellington was a sign of “weakness” and a team not concentrating on their rugby, according to All Blacks players.

Michael Cheika said on Sunday he did not feel under threat as coach, as the Wallabies eyed a record low-point of test defeats in the wake of their latest heavy loss to New Zealand.

A rampant New Zealand inflicted further pain on Australia with a 29-9 victory to claim the Bledisloe Cup in Wellington.

World champions New Zealand humiliated Australia 42-8 on Saturday to open the Rugby Championship and extend the All Blacks’ recent dominance over their Bledisloe Cup rival.

Australian police on Saturday said they were examining a listening device found in the All Blacks’ Sydney hotel ahead of their clash against the Wallabies, as Australian rugby reportedly rejected as “ludicrous” the idea they had bugged the New Zealanders.