rugby
SportAustralian Associated PressReds ready for mystery Super journey
Queensland don't know whether to pack for two days or 10 but are ready for anything at the pointy end of the Super Rugby Pacific season.Sitting seventh on the ladder heading into the final round, the Reds fly to Christchurch to take on the second-placed Crusaders.
SportAustralian Associated PressForce eye finals after Moana Pasifika win
Western Force have kept their Super Rugby Pacific finals hopes alive after snapping their losing streak with a key 48-28 win over Moana Pasifika.Playing their postponed round-10 match on Tuesday night in Auckland, the Force ran in seven tries to also collect a vital bonus point.
SportAustralian Associated PressBlues hope Clarke features in Super finals
The Blues are hoping Caleb Clarke will be able to play at least some part in the Super Rugby Pacific finals despite the All Blacks winger being sidelined for up to a month by a hamstring injury.One of the most potent attacking weapons in the game, Clarke pulled up injured during the 21-19 win over the Brumbies in Canberra last weekend that guaranteed the Blues top spot in the standings at the end of the regular season.
SportAustralian Associated PressWright eyes return for injury-hit Reds
Liam Wright's likely return has provided a timely morale boost for the injury-hit Queensland Reds.The back-rower and co-captain has barely been sighted this season thanks to shoulder and ankle injuries, the latter requiring surgery after a warm-up incident just minutes before kick-off.
SportAustralian Associated PressForce players revel in Waratahs delight
Western Force players have a spring in their step after a rewarding two-hour stint as Waratahs fans, but it will be back to business on Tuesday when they attempt to keep their slim finals hopes alive.The Waratahs smashed their Dunedin hoodoo on Sunday in posting a 32-20 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Highlanders.
SportAustralian Associated PressInjured O'Connor to miss Reds Super finals
Injured playmaker James O'Connor is expected to be sidelined for a month, ruling him out of Queensland's Super Rugby Pacific finals campaign and racing the clock for the Wallabies Test series against England.O'Connor was on Monday diagnosed with a low grade hamstring tear after suffering the injury during the second half of the Reds' 34-22 victory over the last-placed Moana Pasifika on Friday night.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallabies to face off in Japanese final
The Australian influence on Japan Rugby League One has manifested itself on the inaugural final, with Samu Kerevi's Suntory Sungoliath set to meet the Robbie Deans-coached Saitama Wild Knights next Sunday.Suntory reversed a 27-3 loss to the same opponent three weeks ago to fend off Toshiba Brave Lupus 30-24 on Saturday while Saitama had too many guns for Bernard Foley's Kubota Spears in Sunday's semi-final, coasting home 24-10.
SportAustralian Associated PressBrumbies eye final against Tahs or Reds
The Brumbies are on a likely collision course with the NSW Waratahs or Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby Pacific finals, with their opponents to be determined in the final round.The Canberra side sit third on the competition table heading into their last match before the top-eight final series after a heart-breaking loss to the ladder-leading Blues.
SportAustralian Associated PressWaratahs break Super Dunedin hoodoo
The NSW Waratahs have shown they won't just be making up the numbers in the Super Rugby Pacific finals with a rousing 32-20 away win over the Highlanders.Defying a horror record in Dunedin which dated back 14 years and chasing their first win in New Zealand since 2015, the Waratahs showed they are a different beast in 2022 to book a crucial win on Sunday.
SportAustralian Associated PressBarrett steals win for Blues over Brumbies
Beauden Barrett has slotted a field goal after the fulltime siren for the Blues to steal a famous Super Rugby Pacific victory from the Brumbies in Canberra.The Blues' 21-19 win - a club record 12th straight - moved them further ahead on top of the ladder and likely relegated the Brumbies to third place with one round to play.
SportAustralian Associated PressRipley hat-trick but Rebels out of hope
Substitute Lukas Ripley has scored a hat-trick of tries but it wasn't enough to keep the Melbourne Rebels' finals hopes alive in a 45-22 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington.The Rebels needed to win Saturday night's Super Rugby Pacific match to have any hope of leapfrogging the Highlanders into eighth spot.
SportAustralian Associated PressChiefs down Force with eight-try blitz
The Western Force's New Zealand horror show has continued with an embarrassing 54-21 loss to the COVID-hit Chiefs in Hamilton.The Force were desperate to come out firing in Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific match after copping a 61-10 loss to the Highlanders and a 53-15 defeat to the Crusaders over the past fortnight.
SportAustralian Associated PressHistory against improved Tahs in Dunedin
Michael Hooper and Ned Hanigan's returns have boosted the NSW Waratahs' hopes for their daunting Dunedin assignment as the Super Rugby Pacific play-off picture clears.The Waratahs play the Highlanders on Sunday in the final game of the penultimate round.
SportAustralian Associated PressAustralia, South Africa go down in Sevens
Australia have it all to do after going down to the United States in their opening match of the World Rugby Sevens in Toulouse.A hat-trick of tries from Perry Baker gave the US a 24-19 victory on Friday, with the scoreline suggesting a closer contest than it was.
SportAustralian Associated PressO'Connor injury scare as Reds find form
James O'Connor's latest injury setback has soured a Queensland Reds win that snapped a four-game Super Rugby Pacific losing streak.The Reds stuttered their way to a 34-22 victory over the last-placed Moana Pasifika at Suncorp Stadium on Friday.
SportAustralian Associated PressCrusaders rout Drua in Super statement
The Crusaders have put their Super Rugby Pacific rivals on notice with a ruthless win over the Fijian Drua to strengthen their hold on second place.The 61-3 win at Christchurch's Orangetheory Stadium on Friday went as forecast, their nine unanswered tries against the newcomers a handy margin boost as they fight with the Brumbies for second spot.
SportAustralian Associated PressWilting Force aim to restore rugby pride
Western Force coach Tim Sampson hasn't given up on the finals just yet despite a disastrous fortnight which has left the Super Rugby Pacific club battling to restore pride in the jersey.A six-match losing run has seen the Force (2-9) plummet to 10th spot on the ladder, meaning they need to win their final three games to have a chance of overtaking the Rebels and Highlanders.
SportAustralian Associated PressRebels want Super redemption against Canes
After blowing a vital win on the siren last round, Melbourne's theme for their Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Hurricanes is about redemption.The Rebels looked headed for a crucial victory over the Chiefs only for their opponents to score a try in the 80th minute to take the result by three points.
SportAustralian Associated PressBrumbies to measure up against Super Blues
Fresh from confirming his future with Australian rugby, lock Nick Frost says the Brumbies are excited to test themselves against the benchmark Blues before the Super Rugby Pacific finals.Ahead of their Canberra clash on Saturday, the Blues are runaway competition leaders while the Brumbies currently sit second with one round remaining before the top-eight playoffs.
SportAustralian Associated PressBanks boost as Rennie eyes England Tests
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie won't hold Tom Banks's impending move to Japan against him when it comes to selecting his team to face England in July.The Brumbies fullback is expected to agree to an eye-watering offer reportedly worth $2.
SportAustralian Associated PressAustralia A rugby revived for Pacific Cup
Test hopefuls will have another stage to press their claims for Rugby World Cup selection with an Australia A squad competing in the Pacific Nations Cup this July in Fiji.While the Wallabies take on England in three Tests in July in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, a development squad will play three matches against Test line-ups from Samoa, Fiji and Tonga.
SportAustralian Associated PressNine new Wallaroos for Pacific Four rugby
Nine debutantes have been included in the Wallaroos 32-player travelling squad for next month's Pacific Four Series against New Zealand, Canada and the USA.Australia coach Jay Tregonning on Thursday named the large squad, with Brumbies No.
SportAustralian Associated PressWilson adds grunt as Reds seek momentum
Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn has turned to the sage words of his former NRL mentor Wayne Bennett as they attempt to halt a four-game Super Rugby Pacific losing streak.The Reds (7-5) have tumbled from equal first to seventh ahead of their penultimate round clash against newcomers Moana Pasifika (1-10) at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
SportAustralian Associated PressBiggar named Wales captain for Boks series
Flyhalf Dan Biggar has been named Wales captain for the three-Test tour to South Africa over Alun Wyn Jones despite the vastly experienced lock returning from a shoulder injury.Biggar retained the leadership role after standing in for Jones in the Six Nations, where Wales made a poor defence of their title by losing to Ireland, England, France and even Italy.
SportAustralian Associated PressCrowd racial slur at Tahs match complaint
Hurricanes loose forward Du'Plessis Kirifi has complained of racial abuse from the crowd at Sydney's Leichhardt Oval during Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific clash against the NSW Waratahs.The 25-year-old, whose father is Samoan, raised his middle finger at the crowd after the Hurricanes' 22-18 win and said it was in reaction to racial slurs.
