rugby
SportAustralian Associated PressChiefs compound Waratahs' Super Rugby Pacific woes
A dejected Darren Coleman conceded his misfiring side's attack "stunk" at times as the unbeaten, table-topping Chiefs heaped more pain on the NSW Waratahs in an uninspiring 24-14 Super Rugby Pacific victory in Sydney.Wallabies coach Eddie Jones was on hand to witness an error-riddled match on Friday night that only briefly came to life during a frenetic period in the second half.
SportAustralian Associated PressNSW Waratahs crush Western Force in Super W opener
The NSW Waratahs have lived up to their promise and opened the Super W season in style with a 43-0 rout of the Western Force in Sydney.The Waratahs won the first four editions of the Super W - including the first two in 2018 and 2019 without losing a match - before having their streak stopped last year.
SportAustralian Associated PressBrumbies bashed by Crusaders in first Super loss
A short-handed Brumbies line-up has been brushed aside in Christchurch, smashed 35-17 by the Crusaders in their Super Rugby Pacific clash.Two tries for gun winger Leicester Fainga'anuku snuffed any hopes the Brumbies had of pinching an upset win on their first trip to New Zealand for the season.
SportAustralian Associated PressEddie Jones plots power game for the Wallabies
Eddie Jones has warned fans expecting the Wallabies to return to the glory days of the Galloping Greens-like running rugby under his coaching may be left disappointed.Jones is a graduate of the famous Randwick side featuring the Ella brothers, Lloyd Walker and company that dominated Sydney club rugby in the 1970s and 80s.
SportAustralian Associated PressRebels out to stop Reds and kick off Super Rugby season
Having got the better of Jake Gordon at the NSW Waratahs, Melbourne halfback Ryan Louwrens has set his sights on Queensland's Tate McDermott when the teams square off in Super Rugby Pacific.The Rebels edged out the Waratahs in round three and are hoping to claim another fellow Aussie scalp at AAMI Park on Saturday.
SportAustralian Associated PressRebels, Storm blow up over dodgy training surface
Melbourne Rebels are seething after losing star backrower Richard Hardwick to a possible season-ending injury caused by the poor surface at their training ground, which they share with the Melbourne Storm.The NRL club is also upset about the state of the surface of Gosch's Paddock, which is located adjacent to AAMI Park and considering alternative training venues.
SportAustralian Associated PressJones coy as Rugby Australia closes in on NRL's Suaalii
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has dodged questions about Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii amid reports Rugby Australia has lured the rugby league star to the 15-man code from 2025 on an eye-watering $1.An elite rugby talent during his days at The Kings School in Parramatta, Suaalii earlier this month re-signed with the NRL's Sydney Roosters through to 2024.
SportAustralian Associated PressRevamped Waratahs seek return to Super W glory
After having their streak of four successive Super W titles snapped, the NSW Waratahs are embracing the underdog tag as they hunt another crown.The six-team tournament gets underway on Friday, with the Waratahs first-up hosting the Western Force.
SportAustralian Associated PressBrumbies back Super depth for Crusaders battle
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has called on Australia's Super Rugby Pacific teams to prove themselves against New Zealand opposition, but the ACT Brumbies will make their first trip across the ditch with a stack of Test players sitting out.The in-form Brumbies take on the Crusaders looking for a fifth straight win - but with two Wallabies missing through injury and another five resting as they comply with national team load-management protocols leading up to the World Cup.
SportAustralian Associated PressJones turns to England, AFL to bolster Wallabies staff
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has again showed his willingness to embrace rival codes, with ex-AFL specialist David Rath joining his coaching staff.Rugby Australia confirmed Rath's appointment on Friday as well as Englishman Neal Hatley, who will be the new scrum coach.
SportAustralian Associated PressNSW Waratahs won't blame injury crisis for lean run
Skipper Jake Gordon is refusing to use his side's injury crisis as any excuse as the NSW Waratahs' top-four ambitions go on the line against unbeaten Super Rugby Pacific leaders the Chiefs.After a depressingly winless campaign in 2021, the Waratahs under first-season coach Darren Coleman morphed into surprise quarter-finalists and title outsiders last year.
SportAustralian Associated PressReds still fuming after concussed Lynagh ruled out
The Queensland Reds are seething privately by the lack of action after playmaker Tom Lynagh was concussed and likely ruled out for two Super Rugby Pacific games.The teenage son of former Reds and Wallabies star Michael has burst onto the scene this season, forcing his way into new Australia coach Eddie Jones' Test calculations with his poise and kicking accuracy in the competition's opening month.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallaby Alaalatoa won't change style after concussions
Allan Alaalatoa says he won't change the way he plays when the Brumbies captain and Wallabies star returns from his latest concussion against the Crusaders on Friday night.Alaalatoa has been dealing with his third concussion in eight months, subbed off early in their Super Round clash with the Blues and missing their previous two matches against Queensland and Moana Pasifika.
SportAustralian Associated PressReds' Super blow as concussed Lynagh ruled out
Tom Lynagh's rapid rugby ascension has been curbed, the Queensland Reds playmaker likely to miss the side's next two Super Rugby Pacific games due to a concussion.The 19-year-old impressed after his shock call-up to wear the No.
SportAustralian Associated PressBrumbies lose five Super Wallabies to World Cup rest
The Brumbies will attack their biggest test of the Super Rugby Pacific season short-handed, missing seven Wallabies for the trip to Christchurch to face the Crusaders.They're not the only Australian side that's made big changes, NSW Waratahs coach Darren Coleman forced into a major injury reshuffle with star youngster Max Jorensen and flanker Charlie Gamble among those missing.
SportAustralian Associated PressBrutal home truths leave Force primed for Blues clash
Western Force captain Michael Wells has given an insight into the team's brutal analysis of games, saying players need to feel embarrassed at times in order to learn from their mistakes.The Force were left ruing the one that got away after conceding three tries in the final 20 minutes of last week's 43-35 loss to the Highlanders in New Zealand.
SportAustralian Associated PressMafi says Rebels to keep playing running rugby
Alex Mafi says Melbourne coach Kevin Foote continues to give them freedom to play their own game despite a rocky beginning to the Super Rugby Pacific season.Rather than retreat into their shells after a 1-3 start, the hooker said Foote is backing the team, who matched the undefeated Chiefs early on in Hamilton last round before suffering a 44-25 defeat.
SportAustralian Associated PressNSW Waratahs own their slow start to Super Rugby season
No player is taking more responsibility for the NSW Waratahs' shabby start to the Super Rugby Pacific season than Izaia Perese.Dejected Waratahs captain Jake Gordon called on teammates to look in the mirror and take accountability for their individual errors after last Friday night's 34-17 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington.
SportAustralian Associated PressRobertson to follow Foster as All Blacks coach
Scott Robertson is promising a new-look All Blacks from 2024 after his appointment as Ian Foster's coaching successor.The Crusaders mentor has been tapped by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to lead the All Blacks after this year's World Cup after a hugely contentious coaching process.
SportAustralian Associated PressReds hold on to defy Drua's late Super Rugby charge
Brad Thorn was left smiling through gritted teeth after the sloppy Queensland Reds defied another fast Fijian Drua finish to hang on for a 27-24 Super Rugby Pacific win in Brisbane.The Reds led 24-3 midway through the second half on Sunday, but in a replay of last season's Suncorp Stadium clash, had to withstand a late Drua flurry and somehow hung on.
SportAustralian Associated PressForce fall in back-and-forth Super loss to Highlanders
The Western Force have missed a chance in New Zealand after the Highlanders escaped with a comeback Super Rugby Pacific win in Invercargill.Simon Cron's men led 25-22 with 22 minutes to play on Sunday when George Poolman was sin-binned for a lifting tackle on Highlanders fullback Sam Gilbert.
SportAustralian Associated PressImperious Ireland clinch Six Nations Grand Slam
Ireland have completed their fourth Six Nations Grand Slam with a 29-16 victory over England at a pulsating Aviva Stadium emphatically underlining their status as the world's top-ranked team heading into September's Rugby World Cup.The script could not have been better prepared - a chance to seal a first Grand Slam in Dublin on St Patrick's Day weekend - and Ireland delivered, although it was nervier than they would have liked against an England side reduced to 14 men for the entire second half.
SportAustralian Associated PressBrumbies beat Moana Pasifika in Super score-fest
A heavy dose of lineout power has carried the Brumbies to a fourth straight Super Rugby Pacific win, seeing off Moana Pasifika in an entertaining, back-and-forth affair in Canberra.They were down 14-3 inside 10 minutes and couldn't shake off Moana until deep in the second half, winning 62-36 thanks to four tries off the back of their set piece.
SportAustralian Associated PressCrusaders beat Blues in Super Rugby Pacific thriller
Winger Leicester Fainga'anuku scored three tries for the Christchurch-based Crusaders who held on to beat the Auckland-based Blues 34-28 in a fourth-round match which reprised last year's final in Super Rugby Pacific.The Blues came close to winning the match with late tries but lock James Tucker and backrower Hoskins Sotutu both lost the ball when they were over the Crusaders line.
SportAustralian Associated PressChiefs beat Rebels, stay perfect in Super Rugby Pacific
A significant finger injury to Wallabies back Reece Hodge has added to the Melbourne Rebels' woes, as they lost 44-25 to unbeaten Super Rugby Pacific leaders the Chiefs in Hamilton.The Chiefs scored six tries to four as they picked up a fourth-straight bonus-points win, while the Rebels dropped to 1-3.
