10:29 AM GMT Eddie Jones has defended Owen Farrell after the co-captain came under criticism for a no-arms tackle on Izack Rodda during England’s 37-18 victory over Australia Saturday. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika called it a “ludicrous decision” not to penalise Farrell for the try-preventing tackle, saying that he thought it should have resulted in
Rugby
11:18 PM GMT World Rugby’s awards night in Monaco turned green on Sunday as Ireland’s Johnny Sexton and Joe Schmidt led a treble of player, coach and team of the year triumphs. With Schmidt at the helm in the stands and fly-half Sexton pulling the strings on the pitch, Ireland won a Six Nations Grand
10:16 PM GMT Greg GrowdenESPN Rugby Close After more than 30 years with The Sydney Morning Herald and Fairfax Media in Australia, Greg Growden now writes exclusively online for ESPN. Never afraid to step on toes, you can expect plenty of compelling insight from one of Australia’s most renowned writers. Great sporting teams have at
3:28 AM GMT The All Blacks will face Tonga in a home Test just two weeks before their bid to defend the Webb Ellis Cup begins next year. New Zealand Rugby announced the world champions will play the Ikale Tahi on September 7 in a pre-World Cup hit out in Hamilton. Both teams will leave
2:24 AM GMT England prop Kyle Sinckler ensured the Wallabies’ off-field dramas weren’t forgotten during their 37-18 Test defeat at Twickenham. “You’re all f…ing snitches anyway,” declared Sinckler as a scuffle broke out early in the second half. It was an apparent reference to the Wallabies’ leadership group informing coach Michael Cheika that veterans Kurtley
9:45 PM GMT Jamie BraidwoodESPN CARDIFF — World Cups aren’t won 12 months before the tournament, but statements can be made and in front of a raucous home crowd, Wales put away South Africa to definitively show that they have the strength, and depth, to challenge anyone in Japan next year. Wales notched up a
9:05 PM GMT Ireland ended a stellar year with the best record of any top-tier test side after a second-string side keen on making an impression ahead of next year’s World Cup scored eight tries to beat the United States 57-14. Following the high of last week’s triumph over New Zealand, the visit of the
8:52 PM GMT Australia coach Michael Cheika accepted that England deserved their 37-18 victory on Saturday but was incensed at what he called the “ludicrous decision” not to penalise Owen Farrell for a no-arms tackle on Izack Rodda at the end of the first half. The referee ruled that Rodda had been the man dropping
8:57 PM GMT TWICKENHAM, London — And just like that, with three wins from four and new folk heroes in Joe Cokanasiga and Kyle Sinckler, all was well in the England world. After England swiped aside Australia to finish their autumn programme with victories over South Africa and Japan and that one-point defeat to New
7:25 PM GMT Wales completed a first clean sweep of their November test programme but had to grit their way to a 20-11 victory over South Africa at the Principality Stadium on Saturday for an important pre-World Cup triumph. It was a ninth successive test win for the Welsh — a feat they have not