Nov 8, 2017 ESPN staff The All Blacks and Springboks have already wrapped up their series, but there’s still plenty to play for in Australia as Ireland and the Wallabies play out the decider in Sydney. Ireland are looking to secure their first series win over the Wallabies in Australia in 39 years, while France
Rugby
7:18 PM BST It’s maybe a bit premature to suggest that Rassie Erasmus has a good idea of how the spine of his team is going to look like at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan after only three Tests in charge of the Springboks. But it’s more than likely true. If fit, hookers
11:31 AM BST South Africa and England enter Saturday’s third and final test at Newlands with very different mindsets as touring flyhalf Danny Cipriani prepares to take centre stage with a first test start in a decade. South Africa have already secured the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead, having extended England’s losing streak to
5:24 AM BST The New Zealand-France Test series is reaching a spiky conclusion after All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen called on the tourists to quit complaining about the referees. Hansen ran out of patience after a French journalist suggested the hosts should put the Dave Gallaher Trophy up for grabs in the final Test
12:13 PM BST ESPN staff Eddie Jones has named his England side to face South Africa in the final of three Tests in Cape Town on June 23. Danny Cipriani will make his first start for England since 2008, replacing George Ford at fly-half. The England head coach made three other changes to the starting
12:38 PM BST ESPN staff Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has made five changes to his starting side to play England in the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday. Four of the changes are in the backline, with Warrick Gelant named at fullback, Jesse Kriel and Andre Esterhuizen selected in an all-new midfield,
5:41 AM BST Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has shifted captain Peter O’Mahony from blindside to openside flanker for the series-deciding third test against Australia and made five personnel changes to the starting side that won the second match in Melbourne. O’Mahony’s move to the number seven jersey has allowed Schmidt to bring in Leinster number
4:25 PM BST Reigning champions Leinster have been handed a tough defence of their European crown after they were named in a Champions Cup pool alongside four-time winners Toulouse, Wasps and Bath. Leinster battled their way 15-12 victory over Racing 92 in last season’s final, with Isa Nacewa’s 78th minute kick securing the victory infront
11:04 AM BST England are “bitterly frustrated” at their inability to hold leads and maintain their discipline in South Africa and have a point to prove in the final match of the series in Cape Town Saturday, lock Joe Launchbury has said. England lost the three-match series with defeats in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, where they
3:31 AM BST Craig Dowd Close Craig Dowd played 60 Tests for New Zealand between 1993 and 2000, including in two World Cups, and he was part of the All Blacks team that won their first series in South Africa in 1996. He played for the Blues and Auckland in New Zealand domestic rugby, and