5:17 PM GMT New Zealand smashed Italy 66-3 in Rome on Saturday, finishing their European tour with an 10-try romp and leaving coach Steve Hansen with plenty to consider as he looks to settle on a squad to defend their World Cup title next year. Hansen retained just four players from the starting team that
Rugby
5:10 PM GMT Sean Maitland scored a try 15 minutes from time to earn Scotland a hard-fought 14-9 victory over a profligate Argentina at Murrayfield on Saturday and end the year on a winning note. The winger was sent over on the blind side by Stuart Hogg after a smart piece of thinking that caught
8:26 PM GMT England completed a highly satisfying November series with a crushing 37-18 four-try victory over a ragged Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, claiming a record sixth successive win in the 50th meeting of the old sporting rivals. After an early try for Jonny May it was 13-13 at the break but Elliot Daly,
10:13 PM GMT The Wallabies’ preparations for Saturday’s Test against England have been thrown into turmoil after it emerged Adam Ashley-Cooper and Kurtley Beale were axed after breaking team rules. The incident happened at the squad’s Cardiff hotel following the defeat to Wales at the Principality Stadium when the pair invited three women back to
12:13 PM GMT Chris M Jones Conor O’Shea is determined to be the best-prepared foreign coach at next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan. The ground work has been set after a two-Test tour of the country in June and a recent fact-finding mission that replicated every journey, training camp and match day experience his
11:48 AM GMT Talismanic Wallabies back-rower David Pocock has been ruled out Saturday’s clash with England after failing a late fitness test. The 30-year-old was named in the side by coach Michael Cheika on Thursday after being cleared to play by team doctor Nathan Gibbs following the neck injury he sustained in Italy last week.
2:10 AM GMT New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has leapt to the defence of his captain Kieran Read in the wake of criticism of recent performances by the 117-cap veteran. Hansen, at a news conference ahead of Saturday’s fixture against Italy, hit out at reports suggesting the 33-year-old loose forward may no longer be good
12:13 AM GMT Wallabies defence coach Nathan Grey has hit back at claims from All Blacks boss Steve Hansen that something is not right about Australian rugby. Hansen was responding to an article in the New Zealand media claiming the world champions struggled against northern hemisphere sides this year due to a one-sided Bledisloe Cup
10:09 PM GMT Manu Tuilagi’s injury strife has been well documented and to control his boredom away from the field, he has become an accomplished barista and established himself as king of the pool table. But finally on Saturday, his inclusion on the bench against the Wallabies offers him the chance to park injury-enforced hobbies
4:27 PM GMT David Pocock will start at No.8 for Australia against England at Twickenham on Saturday after overcoming a neck injury. Pocock is a key member of the loose trio and his ability to turn over possession at the ruck is a major weapon for Australia as they seek to end a run of