Latest - The Black Ferns were crushed 38-13 by France in Pau this morning.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
It's the World Champion New Zealand women's team's third heavy defeat in as many weeks.
They suffered record defeats to England in their last two tests.
The Black Ferns play France again in Castre next weekend.
Iti is the French team's third consecutive win over the Black Ferns after successes in 2018 and 2019.
The latest loss and the Black Ferns big defeats against England have highlighted a gap between the New Zealanders and Europe's best, with the Black Ferns less than a year away from defending their World Cup crown on home soil.
Mitchell replaces Conway for India Tests
In form batsman Daryl Mitchell has replaced Devon Conway in the Black Caos test squad for the upcoming tour of India.
Conway was earlier ruled out of the tour and the T20 World Cup Final with a broken hand sustained in the Black Caps semi-final win over England.
Coach Gary Stead said Conway would return home with the T20 squad after their three-game series in India next week, while Mitchell will stay on for the two Test series starting later this month.
"It's a shame for Devon to miss out on the first series of the new World Test Championship cycle, but it also offers up an opportunity for someone else," Stead said.
"Daryl's versatility means he can cover a lot of batting positions and he's certainly got plenty of confidence at the moment.
"He's proven he can perform in Test cricket and I know he's excited to rejoin the Test group."
The Black Caps head to India after after the T20 World Cup to begin the tour with three T20 Internationals on November 17 in Jaipur, 19 in Ranchi and 21 in Kolkata.
The two Test series starts in Kanpur on November 25 with the second Test in Mumbai from December 3.
Waikato to host Premiership final
Waikato will face defending champions Tasman in next weekend's NPC Premiership final.
Waikato beat Canterbury 17-14 in Rotorua in last night's second semi-final, after Tasman upset Hawkes Bay in Napier.
The Mako led the Magpies 25-17 at half-time, with tries to hooker Andrew Makalio, sevens veteran Andrew Knewstubb and Fijian winger Timoci Tavatavanawai.
Hawke's Bay were on the back foot early, but clawed back ground when Jonah Lowe, Tom Parsons and Marino Mikaele-Tu'u crossed before the break.
The visitors took the lead at 27-25 with 15 minutes remaining, lock Geoff Cridge's try boosted by the reliable kicking of Lincoln McClutchie.
That lasted less than five minutes, an intercept try to centre Leicester Fainga'anuku and a Mitchell Hunt penalty securing the win for Tasman.
Earlier, Taranaki beat Southland 25-13 in Inglewood to claim hosting rights for next weekend's Championship final against Otago.
Argentina dominate Italy in comprehensive win
Argentina outscored Italy by five tries to one as they returned to winning ways, after seven successive losses, with a 37-16 win in their test at the Stadio Communale Monigo.
Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Matias Moroni, Santiago Cordero and Facundo Bosch scored tries in a convincing triumph with Emiliano Boffelli adding a penalty and three conversions.
Nicolas Sanchez came on to also put over a penalty after Argentina were 17-6 ahead at halftime.
Italy scrumhalf Stephen Varney scored his team's try, converted by Paolo Garbisi who also kicked over three penalties.
Boffelli set Argentina on their way with a superbly taken high catch and a clever offload to allow Kremer to surge to the line for the opening score after nine minutes.
Gonzalez, who turns 21 on Monday, then celebrated early as he finished off a kick and chase to see Argentina romp into a 17-0 lead inside the opening half hour.
They got their third try 100 seconds into the second half after Mateo Carreras leapt over an opponent to snatch a poor kick by the hosts and turn defence into attack as Argentina then swung the ball down the line for Moroni to go over.
Italy suggested a possible comeback when Vardy darted over in the 48th minute followed three minutes later by the third of Garbisi's penalties to cut the Pumas' lead to eight points.
But an easy try for Cordero not long after swiftly ended home hopes with Italy's bad day at the office compounded by a serious knee injury suffered by prop Marco Riccioni, who plays for Saracens in England.
Bosch scored four minutes from time at the end of a maul to make up for dropping the ball after also crossing the try line a minute earlier.
Argentina had lost six games in the Rugby Championship and last weekend away to France going into the Italy test. They now head to Dublin to meet Ireland
Italy finish their year with a test against Uruguay in Parma next weekend.
-Reuters