The Wallabies have been denied a historic sweep of Argentina after a chaotic finish in Mendoza saw Australia and the Pumas play out a thrilling 28-28 draw.
Argentina 28-28 Australia: rugby union second Test – as it happened
Australia secure series win in Argentina for first time in history after an eight-try slugfest ends in a draw
It’s not a packed house unfortunately.
Perhaps its economic reasons, perhaps it’s a sign of the sport’s popularity, or perhaps it’s because Australia aren’t a major draw.
Continue reading...Kriel and Marx tries help South Africa power past All Blacks to take series lead
South Africa 29-24 New Zealand
All Blacks captain Ardie Savea out of final Test
There have been moments over the past couple of weeks that have made us question South Africa’s status as the standard bearers in world rugby. After this helter-skelter third Test victory that ensures they cannot lose the series, we have an emphatic answer. The Springboks’ power is unrivalled. The All Blacks’ panache has taken them mightily close but South Africa remain on their perch.
A consolation score for New Zealand at the death rescued some pride but flattered the All Blacks – and afterwards it was confirmed that their captain Ardie Savea will miss the final Test. A second-half masterclass from the Boks, the relentless kind that leaves even opponents as worthy as these suffocated, gasping for air, confirms what was taken as read before this series started – South Africa remain the hot favourites for next year’s World Cup.
Continue reading...South Africa 29-24 New Zealand: rugby union third Test – as it happened
South Africa produce epic second-half performance in comeback win to take a 2-1 series lead over the All Blacks
Anthems done.
A great rendition of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. But does every second person in the stands need to film themselves singing it? Am I just old? A hater? Just live in the moment guys!
Continue reading...Premier League, Italian GP, WSL and US Open tennis – follow with us
Here’s how to follow along with our coverage – the finest writing and up-to-the-minute reports
Continue reading...‘Part of the job, isn’t it?’ Noah Caluori on pain, pressure and second-season syndrome
The Saracens wing is focused on becoming more disciplined and says that he is only going to get better after last term’s breakthrough
Noah Caluori is addressing the dangers of second-season syndrome as he sets about charting a path to England’s World Cup squad next year and it soon becomes apparent he has one clear advantage. Twelve months ago he was an unknown quantity, now opponents will see him coming, but Caluori is hoping playing without pain can ensure he soars to new heights.
What made the 19-year-old’s stratospheric rise last season all the more impressive was that Caluori played with a debilitating wrist injury for much of it. That he still ended his first Prem season as joint top try-scorer and won his first two England caps over the summer demonstrates a resilience in someone who has made things look so easy in his short career to date.
Continue reading...South African airline behind low-level flyby stunt cancels repeat display
Forecast of unfavourable weather cited as reason
Aircraft passed less than 50 feet above stadium
The South African airline Airlink has cancelled a planned flypast before Saturday’s Springboks-All Blacks rugby Test as the country’s aviation regulator reviews a similar display conducted by the airline last week.
Airlink said on Wednesday it had withdrawn its application for a formation flyby ahead of the Rugby Championship clash at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium, citing forecasts of unfavourable weather. The South African civil aviation authority (SACAA) is conducting a compliance verification of the airline’s 29 August flypast over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium.
Continue reading...Maro Itoje ready to ‘come back better’ for England after taking mini sabbatical
Itoje rested for Nations Championship games in July
Captain has had a rare full pre-season with Saracens
Maro Itoje says it felt “very weird” watching England play from afar this summer but he believes more top players should consider taking a break to prolong their careers. The British & Irish Lions captain was rested for his country’s three Nations Championship games in July and is now feeling the benefits of “taking a breath” after an intense year on and off the field.
In addition to the burden of leadership for club and country, Itoje also lost his mother last year and, with the 2027 World Cup looming, the national coach, Steve Borthwick, offered his captain the chance of a mini-sabbatical. He has emerged fit, healthy and mentally rested for the season ahead having enjoyed his first full club pre-season at Saracens since 2014.
Continue reading...The Breakdown | Love or hate him, Erasmus misses nothing in rugby’s ‘Greatest Rivalry’ thriller
Late changes to South Africa’s team smacked of mind games, but reinvigorated New Zealand remain in the hunt
The margins are slim in South Africa this past fortnight and not just on the scoreboard. According to aviation experts, one of the two planes flying over the stadium in Cape Town just before kick-off on Saturday came within 12 to 14 metres of hitting the top of the stand which, depending on your perspective, either ranks as highly-skilled piloting or the most gratuitous of matchday stunts.
Something similar could be said, as it happens, about Rassie Erasmus’s ongoing selectorial high jinks. His initial starting XV announced for the second Test bore about as much resemblance to the one that ultimately took the field as Erasmus did to the late, great Dolly Parton, with no fewer than six of the original lineup missing. It had the desired result in terms of South Africa levelling up the four-Test series at 1-1 but was yet another example of Erasmus toying with the game’s supposed conventions.
Continue reading...South African airline defends dramatic low-level flyby before rugby union clash
Cape Town stunt sparks major debate over safety risks
Airlink insist flyby conducted according to regulations
A pre-game stunt involving two passenger jets flying dramatically low over a stadium in South Africa drew huge cheers from the estimated crowd of around 56,000 people, but also sparked a major debate over safety risks.
The flyby by two Embraer jets, operated by local airline Airlink, happened on Saturday before the second rugby union Test between South Africa and New Zealand in Cape Town.
Continue reading...‘Someone will be fired’: Fans left terrified by planes’ 14m near-miss before All Blacks clash
Two planes left fans terrified after almost colliding with the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.
Argentina 21-27 Australia: men’s rugby union international – as it happened
Tom Hooper scores decisive try in a messy game as Les Kiss earns biggest scalp of his early tenure
Gordon gets us underway!
After Australia’s anthem it’s Argentina’s retort.
Continue reading...‘Bloody hard place to win’: Wallabies survive epic Pumas thriller as Kiss’ unbeaten run rolls on
Wallabies coach Les Kiss remains unbeaten after Australia survived a spirited Argentina fightback to claim a hard-fought 27-21 victory in Jujuy.
Kolisi fires up ferocious Springboks to hit back against All Blacks and level series
Second Test: South Africa 33-26 New Zealand
Kolisi and Marx inspire world champions to victory
The Boks are back. Level at one apiece in the series and back to what they do best. Blending power and directness, blood and thunder to edge out far enough ahead of New Zealand and withstand a gutsy comeback from the All Blacks. Throw in some brazen mischief from Rassie Erasmus, who swapped his entire front-row just an hour before kick-off, and this was much closer to a trademark Springboks performance after they were unrecognisable a week ago.
They were far from flawless but constantly ferocious and while All Blacks – particularly given how they finished the match – will head back for the third Test still confident they remain in the series because this was not a knockout blow by the Springboks. It was, however, some counterpunch after last week’s humbling. The third Test is scheduled for Johannesburg but they may consider relocating to Manila.
Continue reading...South Africa 33-26 New Zealand: rugby union second Test – as it happened.
Springboks respond to adversity and withstand All Blacks fight back to level the series 1-1 after a hard fought victory in Cape Town.
Pieter-Steph du Toit walks out with his wife and children on the occasion of his 100th Test.
I got to chat with him back in 2021. He has quite the story:
Continue reading...