rugby
SportAustralian Associated PressRFU rebukes Jones over schools remark
Eddie Jones has been rebuked by the Rugby Football Union for criticising the English game's reliance on the private school system.England's head coach said in a newspaper interview published over the weekend "you are going to have to blow the whole thing up" because it produces "closeted" players who lack "resolve".
SportAustralian Associated PressBoks make five changes for All Blacks Test
8 Duane Vermeulen as one of five changes to their starting line-up for the second Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand at Ellis Park on Saturday.Vermeulen sat out the international season after knee surgery but has been deemed fit to play and comes in for Jasper Wiese at the back of the scrum.
SportAustralian Associated PressWhite backs Cooper for Rugby World Cup
Teammate Nic White says he has no doubt about the ability of Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper to return from a ruptured Achilles injury in time for next year's Rugby World Cup.Cooper was a casualty of the Wallabies' opening Rugby Championship victory over Argentina, with the team rallying after his early second-half exit to post a 41-26 victory.
SportAustralian Associated PressWinger Nadolo returns for Super NSW stint
Powerhouse Fijian international Nemani Nadolo has rejoined the NSW Waratahs ahead of the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, 12 years after his first stint.The veteran winger, aged 34, has signed a one-year deal with NSW, reuniting with Waratahs coach Darren Coleman.
SportAustralian Associated PressCooper speaks after serious injury
Wallabies veteran Quade Cooper is preparing for the long road to recovery after going down with a serious Achilles tendon injury in Australia's hard-fought 41-26 Rugby Championship win over Argentina.In the second half of the Mendoza Test on Sunday (AEST), 34-year-old Cooper went down with the non-contact injury that has cast doubt over his 2023 Rugby World Cup hopes and future in the sport.
SportAustralian Associated PressFallout swells from fresh All Blacks loss
New Zealand's biggest newspaper has called time on All Blacks coach Ian Foster and wants New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to axe the beleaguered coach.The many Kiwis dissatisfied with Foster may soon get their wish, with local media reporting NZR should sack him if the All Blacks lose again this weekend in South Africa.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallabies lose Cooper but do Hooper proud
Coach Dave Rennie has hailed the courage and character of the Wallabies, who overcame a serious injury to Quade Cooper to post a rousing Rugby Championship win over Argentina that they dedicated to absent skipper Michael Hooper.The Wallabies trailed by nine points at half-time in the Mendoza match and then lost playmaker Cooper to a ruptured Achilles tendon, an injury which could rule him out of next year's Rugby World Cup even end the 34-year-old's career.
SportAustralian Associated PressBoks' win heaps pressure on All Blacks
South Africa have piled more pressure on the slumping All Blacks and their besieged coach Ian Foster, grinding them down for a 26-10 win in the Rugby Championship opener.The latest blow for New Zealand - their fifth loss in six Tests - following an historic home series loss to Ireland last month and was their biggest defeat to the Springboks for nearly 100 years.
SportAustralian Associated PressHooper out of Wallabies, 'mindset' issue
Coach Dave Rennie has revealed skipper Michael Hooper had masked his feelings in the lead-up to his shock withdrawal from the Wallabies' Rugby Championship Test against Argentina 24 hours before kick-off.Hooper will miss two Tests against the Pumas after he announced he wasn't in the right mindset to lead or represent the country and would instead fly home.
SportAustralian Associated PressHolloway's long journey to Wallabies cap
Jed Holloway has climbed from the rugby scrap-heap to the Wallabies starting side after being selected for his Test debut against Argentina.6 for the Mendoza Rugby Championship opener on Sunday (AEST), Holloway thought his chances of an international career were over when he was axed from the Waratahs after the 2020 Super season, when he failed to play even a minute.
SportAustralian Associated PressMontoya back to lead Pumas against Aust
Captain Julian Montoya's return is among nine changes to Argentina from the series-deciding win against Scotland last month for the Rugby Championship opener against Australia this weekend.Only two forwards and four backs retained starting spots for the Pumas, who trumped Scotland 34-31 after coming from 15 points down with 30 minutes to go in Santiago del Estero.
SportAustralian Associated PressForce win tug-of-war for Reds playmaker
The Western Force have swept in to sign playmaker Hamish Stewart on a two-year deal and the Queensland Reds insist they aren't angry about it.The Reds were left fuming last month when the Melbourne Rebels made a play for Stewart.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallabies' Cooper not focused on Cheika
Coach Dave Rennie doesn't believe Quade Cooper's fractious history with Argentina coach Michael Cheika will affect his Wallabies playmaker against the Pumas in the opening Rugby Championship Test.Cooper has every reason to try to make a point in the Mendoza match on Sunday morning (AEST) after the former Australian coach effectively tried to end his Test career five years ago.
SportAustralian Associated PressAll Blacks recall Clarke to face Boks
Blockbusting winger Caleb Clarke will play his first Test in two years but besieged All Blacks coach Ian Foster has resisted any urge to make wholesale changes to his starting side for their Rugby Championship opener in South Africa.Foster is under pressure after the All Blacks lost four of their last five Tests, including a historic 2-1 home series defeat by Ireland last month that has left them facing something of a crisis a year out from the Rugby World Cup in France.
SportAustralian Associated PressPollard in, Wallabies suffer Porecki blow
The Wallabies have rushed rookie hooker Billy Pollard to Argentina ahead of their Rugby Championship opener after Dave Porecki suffered a concussion in training.Porecki will be unavailable for the first Test against the Pumas in Mendoza on Sunday (AEST) but could play in their second match in San Juan a week later.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallabies ponder Kerevi centre replacement
Still reeling from the long-term loss of Samu Kerevi, the Wallabies are vowing to embrace the next man up mentality ahead of their opening Rugby Championship Test against Argentina.Kerevi will consult a specialist in Brisbane after suffering a knee injury while playing in Australia's Commonwealth Games Sevens team but the early diagnosis is that he will require surgery.
SportAustralian Associated PressNZ not far off return to top form: Cane
New Zealand captain Sam Cane believes there is "not a whole lot" they need to improve to get back into top form after four losses in their last five Tests.Their recent run has left the team under fire back home with their 2023 Rugby World Cup preparations under a cloud.
SportAustralian Associated PressKerevi's Games injury stings Wallabies
Samu Kerevi's Commonwealth Games rugby sevens cameo has backfired with the Wallabies star to miss the rest of the year because of a knee injury.The centre had opted to play rugby sevens in Birmingham instead of tour Argentina for two Tests.
SportAustralian Associated PressLarkham buoyed by Brumbies' depth, calibre
Even with Scott Sio, Folau Fainga'a, Irae Simone and Tom Banks departing the ACT Brumbies, new coach Stephen Larkham believes their squad depth will be a strength when Super Rugby kicks off again in 2023.Larkham has returned as head coach of the Brumbies after taking on the role of senior coach at Irish club Munster for the last three years.
SportAustralian Associated PressWaratahs sign ex-Test hooker Latu
Tolu Latu has been thrown a rugby career lifeline by his former club the NSW Waratahs, who have signed the hooker for the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.The former Wallabies rake, who has played 21 Tests, signed a one-year deal to push his case for national selection ahead of the 2024 Rugby World Cup in France.
SportAustralian Associated PressMen's sevens rue Games missed chance
Australia's men's rugby sevens program will leave Birmingham still scrambling for respect after an opportunity lost at the Commonwealth Games.A 26-12 bronze medal game loss to New Zealand at Coventry Arena on Sunday night meant they missed the medals, a frustrating 24-12 loss to eventual champions South Africa earlier in the day sure to eat at John Manenti's side.
SportAustralian Associated Press7s women romp to Games gold over Fiji
Bottles were popped on the Gold Coast as Australia's newest rugby sevens stars tended to unfinished business in the Commonwealth Games on the other side of the world.A 22-12 defeat of Fiji in the gold medal game in Coventry, just outside of host city Birmingham, on Sunday night erased the pain of an extra-time loss to New Zealand four years earlier.
SportAustralian Associated PressAust Sevens women into gold medal game
Sisters Maddison and Teagan Levi have combined to thrust Australia past fierce rugby sevens rivals New Zealand and into the Commonwealth Games gold-medal match.Maddison scored three tries in their comeback 17-12 win on Saturday night at Coventry Arena, the third another blazing run down the left wing set up by a pass from her sister.
SportAustralian Associated PressToole time helps 7s men into Games semi
Bench spark Corey Toole helped overcome the absence of injured Wallabies star Samu Kerevi as Australia shut out Samoa 7-0 to earn a Commonwealth Games semi-final shot.Toole's injection just before halftime almost set up a try but he wasn't denied early in the second half, spinning in a tackle then flicking a pass for Matt Gonzalez to score the game's only try at Coventry Arena.
SportAustralian Associated PressBold decoy plan for Aus 7s recruit Kerevi
One of world rugby's most damaging ball runners, Samu Kerevi could be reduced to Commonwealth Games decoy.In a sign of the surging confidence in Australia's men sevens program under John Manenti, there are no plans to lean heavily on their high-profile Wallabies recruit when action begins in Coventry, a short drive from host city Birmingham, on Friday.
