Kieran Read's not giving much away over his thoughts on the next All Blacks coach, but believes two of them he's close to would do a great job

Read has arrived back in New Zealand with his All Blacks teammates from the World Cup in Japan.

He's close with current assistant coach Ian Foster and Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, who are expected to be two of the leading candidates for the role.



The connections of one of the two Kiwi hopefuls in this afternoon's Melbourne Cup are hoping for a fast pace at Flemington.

Four year old gelding 'The Chosen One' is co trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and is rated a rank outsider in a field dominated by European stayers.

Forsman says the horse needs his races to be run quickly which he hasn't had in his last two starts.



21 year old Kiwi Campbell Stewart has taken the leader's yellow jersey after winning stage two of cycling's Tour of Southland.

Stewart has won a bunch sprint finish after the 148 kilometre ride from Riverton to Te Anau.