rugby
SportAustralian Associated PressAll Blacks won't rush COVID-hit trio back
All Blacks captain Sam Cane said there is no pressure on Will Jordan, David Havili and Jack Goodhue to return for Saturday's second Test against Ireland after all three missed the series opener due to COVID-19.The trio were absent for the hosts' 42-19 win over the Irish in Auckland last weekend but trained on Tuesday ahead of the second match in the three-Test series in Dunedin.
SportAustralian Associated PressUnderhill in for second Wallabies Test
Sam Underhill is poised to fill the void in England's back row created by Tom Curry's tour-ending concussion for Saturday's do-or-die second Test against Australia in Brisbane.Underhill was overlooked altogether for the 30-28 defeat at Optus Stadium in Perth but is winning the race to be selected at openside flanker ahead of Lewis Ludlam and Jack Willis.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallabies forced into several Test changes
Coach Dave Rennie has brought consistency to Wallabies selection but circumstances will force a string of changes in the team that attempts to clinch a series win over England in the second Test.Quade Cooper, Darcy Swain, Tom Banks and Allan Alaalatoa are all set to miss Saturday's clash at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, with only Alaalatoa likely to return the following week in Sydney.
SportAustralian Associated PressBoks make wholesale changes for Wales Test
South Africa have named a new captain, plus two uncapped players in their starting line-up and a further four among the replacements as coach Jacques Nienaber announced wholesale changes for the second Test against Wales in Bloemfontein on Saturday.Handre Pollard, who returns to the squad after not featuring in the narrow 32-29 first-Test win in Pretoria at the weekend, will take over the captaincy from Siya Kolisi as Nienaber keeps just one player from Saturday's starting XV.
SportAustralian Associated PressEngland set to be without May in Brisbane
England wing Jonny May is set to miss Saturday's second Test against Australia as he continues his recovery from the episode of COVID that ruled him out of the series opener.Still reeling from the loss of Tom Curry for the rest of the tour due to concussion, England are resigned to being without May for their attempt to keep the series alive at Suncorp Stadium.
SportAustralian Associated PressIreland's Sexton fit to play 2nd NZ Test
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has been passed fit to play in the second Test of their three-match series against New Zealand in Dunedin on Saturday.Sexton was taken off with a suspected concussion during their 42-19 defeat to the All Blacks in the series opener in Auckland last weekend, but Ireland assistant coach Mike Catt confirmed the 36-year-old will be available for selection.
SportAustralian Associated PressBell's Wallabies seek England 'domination'
Fresh-faced Wallabies prop Angus Bell has raised the bar for the second Test against England, declaring only a domination of the visitors' set piece will do.The 21-year-old started in the 30-28 win in Perth, where Australia played for more than a half with 14 men after Darcy Swain's red card for headbutting.
SportAustralian Associated PressWhitelock out of second NZ Test v Ireland
Veteran All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock has been ruled out of Saturday's second rugby Test against Ireland, along with his potential replacement Tupou Vaa'i.Whitelock has been diagnosed with a delayed-onset concussion and might also miss the third Test in Wellington on July 16 under World Rugby protocols which mandate a 12-day stand down for a player who sustains a concussion.
SportAustralian Associated PressEngland flanker Curry out with concussion
England's hopes of levelling the rugby series against the Wallabies have suffered a blow after star flanker Tom Curry was ruled out of the remaining two Tests because of concussion.Curry is to return home with the head injury sustained in the first half of Saturday's 30-28 defeat in Perth and will face "continuing assessment and ongoing management".
SportAustralian Associated PressBeale home, eyes TRC Wallabies return
Kurtley Beale will target a Rugby Championship return for the Wallabies as he battles a hamstring rupture that has kept him off the park for five months.The 95-Test veteran made a fleeting visit to camp Wallaby on the Gold Coast on Monday, having returned from a two-year club stint with Racing 92 in France last week.
SportAustralian Associated PressShocked Lolesio rides Wallabies Test high
Noah Lolesio aims to further repay coach Dave Rennie's faith after his rollercoaster rugby career hit another high in the 14-man Wallabies' breakthrough first Test win over EnglandThe 22-year-old playmaker was a last-minute inclusion in the starting side when playmaker Quade Cooper injured his calf during the warm-up at Perth Optus Stadium on Saturday night.Lolesio says it may have worked in his favour, with little time to get nervous about the magnitude of his task as Australia strove to end an
SportAustralian Associated PressCheika makes winning start with Pumas
Michael Cheika has made a winning start as Argentina coach as the Pumas defeated Scotland 26-18 in their first home rugby Test in 1057 days.Former Wallabies coach Cheika stressed simplicity when his first squad gathered 10 days ago from all over the world, after the Super Rugby side the Jaguares were disbanded in the pandemic.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallabies to look for Swain loophole
Australia haven't given up on having firebrand lock Darcy Swain available for their second Test against England in Brisbane despite his headbutt send-off in Perth.The Wallabies' celebrations after their drought-breaking 30-28 win were tempered by Swain's red card as well as a horror injury toll that included five-eighth Quade Cooper (calf), Tom Banks (broken arm) and Allan Alaalatoa (concussion).
SportAustralian Associated PressEddie Jones says referee helped Wallabies
England coach Eddie Jones has sensationally claimed referees "help" teams who have received a red card after watching his side crash to a 30-28 loss to the 14-man Wallabies.The Wallabies went down a man in the 34th minute when lock Darcy Swain was red carded for headbutting England's Jonny Hill.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallabies shock England in first Test
The Wallabies have overcome injury and ill-discipline to pull off a famous 30-28 victory over England in Perth and snap an eight-game losing streak.The Australians were forced to play a man down for more than half the match on Saturday night after lock Darcy Swain was marched for head-butting English rival Jonny Hill.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallaby Tom Banks suffers gruesome injury
Wallabies fullback Tom Banks faces an extended stint on the sidelines after suffering a gruesome broken arm during the 30-28 win against England in Perth.Quade Cooper was a last-minute withdrawal after straining his left calf in the warm-up on Saturday night, but it was the injury to Banks that left viewers squeamish.
SportAustralian Associated PressNZ overcome plucky Ireland in rugby Test
Rocked by an early Irish onslaught, the All Blacks have staged a superb recovery to score four first-half tries on the way to a 42-19 win over Ireland in the first match of a three-Test series.Ireland had the All Blacks at sixes and sevens with the intensity of their performance in the first quarter at Eden Park.
SportAustralian Associated PressFolau flogged in Test rugby return in Fiji
Israel Folau's return to Test rugby was one to forget, thrashed 36-0 on debut for Tonga against Fiji.The former Wallabies winger wore the No.
SportAustralian Associated PressEngland ready for Wallabies blitz in Test
Captain Courtney Lawes is expecting the Wallabies to "throw the kitchen sink" at his side in a desperation to end an eight-Test losing streak against England in Perth.Australia's last victory over their old foe came at the 2015 World Cup while England embarrassed the Wallabies on home turf in 2016 with a three-Test whitewash.
SportAustralian Associated PressLawes to captain England against Wallabies
Eddie Jones has revealed Owen Farrell is "very unhappy" about being overlooked as England captain for Saturday's Test against the Wallabies, with the coach sticking with Courtney Lawes.Farrell has been England skipper since 2018 but missed the Six Nations due to injury with veteran flanker Lawes stepping in.
SportAustralian Associated PressFolau back in Test rugby with Tongans
Israel Folau will return to Test rugby for the first time since he was sacked by Rugby Australia three years ago when Tonga take on Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup on Saturday.The 33-year-old, who scored 37 tries for Australia in 73 internationals between 2013 and 2019, was listed as "Isileli Folau" and named on the right wing for the match in Suva.
SportAustralian Associated PressNZ flyer Fainga'anuku to debut v Ireland
Leicester Fainga'anuku has been named to make his Test debut as part of a COVID-hit All Blacks team against Ireland.Fainga'anuku was one of the standout players for the Crusaders team who won the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific title this season and will start on the left wing while his Crusaders teammate Sevu Reece will start on the right at Eden Park.
SportAustralian Associated PressBrumbies bolster Wallabies against England
Aware of the need to win the battle up front against old foes England, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has stacked his side with 12 Brumbies players for the Perth Test on Saturday.Reaching the final four, the Brumbies were Australia's top Super Rugby Pacific side and boasted the best set piece which Rennie sees as the key to ending a run of eight successive losses to Eddie Jones-coached England teams.
SportAustralian Associated PressEngland ready to dish out friendly prods
England winger Jack Nowell is keen to give Wallabies halfback Nic White a "few prods" when the former teammates confront each other during the upcoming three-Test series.White and Nowell struck up a friendship during their time together at English outfit Exeter and are planning to catch up ahead of Saturday night's series-opening Test in Perth.
SportAustralian Associated PressMaori All Blacks beat Ireland in Tour game
The Maori All Blacks have welcomed Ireland to New Zealand with a first-half try blitz on their way to a 32-17 victory over the tourists at a rain-soaked Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.Fullback Zarn Sullivan, winger Shaun Stevenson, scrumhalf Brad Weber and No.
