- Hurricane Oscar makes landfall in Cuba amid huge power outage
- McLaren blast 'inappropriate' penalty as Norris F1 title hopes hit
- La Rochelle bounce back against Bordeaux-Begles
- Lethal Lewandowski helps Barca rout Sevilla, Atletico triumph
- Leclerc wins US Grand Prix as Norris, Verstappen clash
- Moldovans vote 'no' in referendum on joining EU: partial results
- Lewandowski powers five-star Barca to Sevilla rout
- Lions hand Vikings first loss, Packers down Texans
- In escalation, Israel bombs Hezbollah-linked finance group
- Martinez keeps Inter on Napoli's tail with Roma winner
- Marseille return to form with Montpellier thrashing
- Lula cancels trip to summit in Russia after injuring head
- Cuba girds for Hurricane Oscar with electricity supply still down
- Harris celebrates birthday at Georgia churches as Trump serves McDonald's
- One dead as flooding hits Italy's northeast flatlands
- Browns quarterback Watson exits with Achilles tendon injury
- Liverpool 'showed up' to beat Chelsea challenge: Slot
- 'Once in a lifetime' Kerr leads New Zealand to Women's T20 World Cup triumph
- Pope names 14 new saints, including martyrs of Damascus
- Malinin captures third straight Skate America crown
- Sri Lanka triumph in rain-affected first ODI against West Indies
- Moldovans flock to vote in key tests on EU future
- Liverpool pass Chelsea test to reclaim Premier League top spot
- Kerr leads New Zealand to maiden Women's T20 World Cup triumph
- Tens of thousands rally in Georgia for EU ahead of pivotal vote
- UN biodiversity summit opens under guerrilla threat in Colombia
- 'Smile 2' scares up the biggest audiences in N.American theaters
- 'I deserved this,' says Bautista Agut after 12th career title
- Thousands protest in Spain's Canary Islands against mass tourism
- Lavreysen reaps 16th gold at track cycling worlds
- Sorloth double helps Atletico beat Leganes
- Libyan held in Germany over suspected Israel embassy plot
- Leverkusen's Boniface 'slightly injured' in car accident
- New Zealand post 158-5 against South Africa in Women's T20 World Cup final
- Teen defender Rothe lifts Union past struggling Holstein Kiel
- Fans gather to mourn Liam Payne's death at UK and other vigils
- Stones bags controversial winner as Man City survive Wolves scare
- Eight-storey building collapses in Kenyan capital
- Tributes pour in for Olympic champion Chris Hoy after terminal cancer revelation
- Oil-rich Iraqi Kurdistan votes, shadowed by economic struggles
- Moldova votes on EU future amid fears of Russian meddling
- With little electricity, Cuba girds for a hurricane
- Napoli keep Serie A lead with win at Empoli
- Tanak triumphs to set up world rally title decider in Japan
- Nepal protesters clash with police over politician's fraud charges
- Leverkusen's Boniface only 'slightly injured' after car accident
- Green holds off Boutier surge to win LPGA title in South Korea
- Israel escalates Beirut bombing, accused of killing 73 in Gaza strike
- Young, Ravindra guide New Zealand to first win in India for 36 years
- New Zealand record first Test win in India for 36 years
All Blacks 'enemies' lock horns in Super Rugby final
Waikato Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa'i has mixed feelings as he prepares for Saturday's Super Rugby final against the Auckland Blues, facing off with an All Blacks rival who is also one of his idols.
The 24-year-old will be up against experienced Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu, who makes a shock return after injuring his knee.
"He's the guy I look up to, so it's a weird one," Vaa'i told AFP on Thursday of the 31-year-old.
"I guess on the field we'll be enemies, but I'm sure after the final whistle I will probably have a beer or two with him."
The Blues host the final at Eden Park and a sell-out crowd of 45,000 is expected.
It promises to be a fierce clash in the forwards with both packs brimming with candidates gunning for All Blacks selection.
New Zealand's new head coach Scott Robertson will name his squad on Monday for the two-Test home series against England.
Vaa'i has played 25 Tests and debuted for New Zealand in 2020 -- when he replaced 43-Test Tuipulotu in a draw against Australia.
It is a toss-up which of the two will be favoured to partner Scott Barrett in the second row for the All Blacks.
Tuipulotu has rushed back from injury to play in Saturday's final, just a fortnight after tearing a knee ligament which was expected to sideline him for several weeks.
"When we catch up I'll ask how he got back on the field so quickly, when he was expected to miss a month or two," Vaa'i said.
"But it's awesome that he's back."
Vaa'i knows his performance will count towards All Blacks selection.
"If I said it's not on my mind, I'd be lying to you, but it's a good opportunity to go out there and put my best foot forward."
- 'Arm wrestle' -
The display of Chiefs playmaker Damian McKenzie will be a key factor in the title decider.
The fly-half orchestrated their semi-final win over the Hurricanes with several breaks and a superb kicking display.
"He's been so impressive and I feel like he's put his hand up for the Number 10 jersey with the All Blacks," Vaa'i said.
The Chiefs lost last year's final at home to the Canterbury Crusaders, who were coached by Robertson in his last game before taking over the All Blacks.
Vaa'i says the pain of losing a home final will help prepare the Chiefs when they attempt to end the Blues' 15-match winning streak at Eden Park.
"It's going to be a real arm wrestle," he said.
"It's a tough place to play, but it's going to be a good match-up," he added.
"It's going to be a forwards game."
P.Silva--AMWN