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• Controversial Steward red card overturned

  England fullback Freddie Steward has been cleared to play for his country with immediate effect after the red card he received against Ireland was overturned.

  Steward was dismissed in England's final Six Nations clash of this year's tournament as they lost 29-16 to Grand Slam winners Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

  The 22-year-old received the contentious red near the end of the first half after his shoulder connected with the head of Hugo Keenan.

  Steward appeared before an independent disciplinary committee via video link to protest his innocence.

  The committee determined that head contact with an opposing player had occurred and believed it had been an act of foul play, adding Steward "had been reckless in his actions and in his upright positioning as he approached and came into highly dangerous contact with the other player".

  However, it was also decided that "there were sufficient mitigating factors including the late change in the dynamics and positioning of the opposing player which should have resulted in the issue of a yellow card rather than a red card".

  The decision means Steward will not face a ban and is free to play again immediately.

  England captain Owen Farrell said after the game: "I was surprised [at the red card] if I am honest. But it is not up to us, we don't make the rules, we don't put them in place, we don't hear what goes on on the ref mic and the process that they go through.

  "That is the decision they came to and you have to accept it."

• New Zealand rushed Robertson appointment, says Hansen

  New Zealand would have been better off biding their time before announcing Ian Foster's replacement, according to former head coach Steve Hansen.

  The All Blacks confirmed on Tuesday that Crusaders coach Scott Robertson will succeed Foster after this year's Rugby World Cup in France.

  Robertson, who lost out to Foster on the position when Hansen stood down four years ago, has been handed a deal that will run through until after the next World Cup in 2027.

  Foster revealed earlier this month he would not be reapplying for the job when his contract expires in November. 

  The 57-year-old questioned New Zealand Rugby (NZR)'s decision to find his successor while their tournament preparations are in full swing.

  NZR said "significant competition for elite coaching talent" forced them to act now, but Hansen believes that decision may backfire.

  "I think they got burned last time so they were worried about that," he told The Platform podcast. "What they didn't take into account was everybody had their coaching sorted.

  "In my opinion, they would have been better to wait, but in their opinion they wanted to push the button and they've done that.

  "They're in charge of New Zealand Rugby, so it's them that die and fall on these decisions.

  "Just like coaches there's got to be repercussions if it doesn't work. If it does work, well they've been super."

  Robertson played 23 Tests for New Zealand and has been praised for his work since moving into coaching, having won six successive Super Rugby titles with Crusaders.

  That made Robertson an obvious contender to take over as the All Blacks' next head coach, but Hansen questioned NZR's handling of the situation.

  "It doesn't come as a surprise because he's been offered the job. [Foster] fought back and maintained it [last year]. He was obviously the prime candidate," Hansen said.

  "I don't know who else applied and they're not telling us, so I think [NZR's] leading us in the dark whether there was more than one candidate or not."

  New Zealand, who are third in the rankings, begin their Rugby World Cup campaign against hosts France before facing Namibia, Italy and Uruguay.

• Ex-All Blacks coach Hansen fires 'chokers' warning to Ireland ahead of World Cup

  Former New Zealand coach Steve Hansen warned in-form Ireland they still have a huge point to prove at the Rugby World Cup this year.

  Andy Farrell's side completed a Grand Slam against England on Saturday, sealing a Six Nations crown and reaffirming their place as the world's number one team.

  But with France 2023 looming in just under half-a-year, they will have to overcome their own history, having never progressed beyond the quarter-final stage.

  Hansen, who knocked Ireland out in the last eight with the All Blacks four years ago in Japan, feels they must defy their own tournament reputation to triumph.

  "They are going well, [are] ranked number one in the world, and they have had a great year so far," he said.

  "Every time a team is number one in the world, you have got to consider them to be a World Cup contender. But it is a tough tournament to win.

  "They have seemed to struggle a little bit at World Cups. If it was the All Blacks, they would probably be called chokers. They have come a long way, they believe in themselves. They are a very good side.

  "So they are definitely a contender. But they will have to overcome the pressure of not having gone past the quarter-finals before, and there will be a lot of pressure involved in that.

  "If they get through to the semi-finals, then they are in new territory. That is something they will have to deal with that they've never dealt with before, and it is always hard to deal with something you haven't dealt with before."

  Ireland open their campaign against Romania on September 9, before they face Tonga, Scotland and reigning champions South Africa.