6:18 AM BST The Wallabies have a discipline problem. That’s probably not breaking news for even casual rugby supporters of the past couple of years, nor is the sound of Michael Cheika complaining about a decision — or series of decisions — following a defeat unfamiliar, either. But as the countdown to Rugby World Cup
Rugby
11:42 PM BST All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has poured lukewarm water on the notion their Test against South Africa is a significant pointer to the teams’ Rugby World Cup group stage blockbuster. The Rugby Championship Test in Wellington on Saturday is the only meeting of the old rivals ahead of their clash in Yokohama
2:05 PM BST Gloucester fly-half Danny Cipriani has been left out of head coach Eddie Jones’ third World Cup training camp in Treviso, Italy. Cipriani was included in the previous training squad selection but spent time away from the team to do specialised strength and conditioning work. Jones has picked a 38-man squad ahead of
7:38 AM BST Halfback Nic White says a week is enough time for the Wallabies to iron out the kinks and deliver an improved Rugby Championship performance against Argentina in Brisbane on Saturday. The Wallabies fell to South Africa 35-17 in Johannesburg but White felt they weren’t far away from a complete performance. Two bombed
4:23 AM BST A stewing Argentina team missing veteran hooker Agustin Creevy will land in Australia with words of praise from the All Blacks still ringing in their ears. The Pumas face the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday hoping to bounce back from a gutting 20-16 Rugby Championship loss to an under-strength New Zealand in
2:27 AM BST Andy Withers Close ESPN Senior Editor Andy loves all sport, in particular football, rugby and horse racing. He supported Leicester City through the bad days, and played rugby without being able to keep Tigers, England and Lions legend Martin Johnson out of the first XV. Sam Bruce Close ESPN Associate Editor Sam
9:48 AM BST Rugby World Cup winner Frans Steyn was a bag of nerves before returning to the South Africa side in their 35-17 Rugby Championship victory over Australia, as he targets a late push for a place in the Springboks’ World Cup squad. Steyn lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in France 12 years ago,
9:19 AM BST South Africa have much to work on following their Rugby Championship-opening 35-17 success against Australia at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus says. Erasmus gambled with an experimental side as he sent 13 players to New Zealand this week ahead of their clash in Wellington on July 27, with
12:14 PM BST Two simple lessons must sink in immediately for the Wallabies after they began their journey to the Rugby World Cup with an 18-point loss to the Springboks in Johannesburg. But it was not all doom and gloom for Michael Cheika and his new-look side, although much of what Australia did well should
12:57 AM BST Summoned to South Africa while in the middle of eating a schnitzel at a Sydney pub, Wallabies prop Harry Johnson-Holmes got his first taste of Test rugby in Johannesburg. The 22-year-old got a phone call on Tuesday night from Australia coach Michael Cheika telling him to put down his knife and fork