Australia got new coach Les Kiss off to a winning start on Saturday with a nail-biting 35-32 victory over Japan that was full of twists and turns in sweltering Osaka.
Japan 32-35 Australia: rugby union international – as it happened
Wallabies win first match under new coach Les Kiss
Amatosero red carded in the first half
“Deep care,” is the message from Les Kiss ahead of his first match in charge of Australia. He wants his team to care about every second, on and off the pitch, when they’re on national team duty.
The 2026 Test calendar is a patchwork quilt of matches scattered around the world as the the All Blacks and Springboks flex their financial muscles and teams begin preparations for next year’s World Cup.
Continue reading...‘Very confident’: Huge Cleary contract call; Perth poised to sign two stars: Transfer Whispers
There is welcome news for the Panthers on two key players while the Bears have reportedly landed a crucial dual coup.
Schmidt leaves repaired Wallabies with gifts of Canham and Lonergan for Kiss | Daniel Gallan
Australia’s lack of forwards remains a problem, but the departing coach raised the ceiling and left a deeper and more experienced group.
Australia ended the Joe Schmidt era like a struggling restaurant producing one of its finest meals on the night the head chef handed back his keys. Everything came together: the service was sharp, the ingredients were handled with care, but loyal patrons left wondering why the place could not function like this every week.
Italy were swept aside 57-10 in Perth on Saturday. Josh Canham completed a hat-trick as the home side produced the sort of precise, powerful performance that offered a tribute to their departing coach and a reminder of why his spell has been so difficult to judge.
Continue reading...THAT’S better! Slick Wallabies blitz stuns rival, snaps horror streak in coach’s final Test
Australia snapped a six-match losing streak after dismantling a depleted Italy 57-10 in the Nations Championship on Saturday, ensuring coach Joe Schmidt ended his unsuccessful tenure on a winning note.
Australia 57-10 Italy: Nations Championship rugby union international – as it happened
Wallabies send off coach Joe Schmidt in style in Perth
Josh Canham leads nine-try rout with hat-trick
Despite Australian rugby’s struggles, tonight’s match is a sell out, the sixth in a row for the Wallabies.
Referee: Paris-born Englishman Christophe Ridley.
Continue reading...Wallabies make selection gambles for Italy clash in bid to arrest losing streak
Declan Meredith to start again at flyhalf against Italy in Perth
Fraser McReight dropped to the bench in favour of Carlo Tizzano
Outgoing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is rolling the dice at the exit door, sticking with Declan Meredith at flyhalf and dropping Fraser McReight to the bench in favour of hometown hero Carlo Tizzano.
The Wallabies will be aiming to snap a six-game losing streak when they face world No 10 Italy in Saturday night’s Nations Championship clash in Perth.
Continue reading...Wallabies’ pop-gun revival under Joe Schmidt blown apart as France unload heavy artillery | Daniel Gallan
Plucky defeats decorated with patches of excellence will not cut it for Australia with a home World Cup now looming large
The camera found Joe Schmidt shortly after France had completed a 22-point swing. Australia’s coach had seen a 21-12 half-time lead obliterated in 16 brutal minutes. Schmidt, one of rugby’s sharpest minds, looked short of answers. The trouble was that the questions confronting him had obvious answers but almost impossible solutions.
Why had Australia’s discipline deteriorated? Because they were under pressure. Why had their tackle intensity and ruck speed fallen away? Because France had introduced fresh power from the bench. Why had the Wallabies gone from a nine-point half-time lead to a 13-point deficit in barely a quarter of an hour? Because one team had more large, skilful, Test-quality rugby players than the other.
Continue reading...‘Talk is cheap’ as Wallabies dealt brutal reality check in collapse against France
France came back from a nine-point half-time deficit to beat Australia 42-26 in a pulsating Nations Championship clash in Brisbane on Saturday.
‘Not sure if it’s right’: Wallabies coach worried about debutant as squad named for France clash
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt admits he’s “apprehensive” about thrusting the uncapped Declan Meredith into Australia’s chief playmaking role on Saturday against France, but says injuries have forced his hand.
Wallabies ‘gutted’ as contentious call leaves Aussies heartbroken after ‘one of the all-time’ Tests
It was heartbreak for the Wallabies as Tom Clarkson scored a last-gasp converted try to help Ireland to a riveting 33-31 victory over Australia on Saturday in the Nations Championship.
Australia 31-33 Ireland: Nations Championship rugby union international – as it happened
Ireland score late and Australia miss a penalty as the visitors snatch victory in 10-try thriller.
Really keen to see how the midfield battle plays out.
Len Ikitau is one of the elite ballers in the game and Stuart McClosky was the best centre of the Six Nations (imo).
Continue reading...Rugby 2026: Antoine Dupont pulls out of Nations Championship, France rugby, Wallabies, news, videos, highlights teams, tournament
France assistant coach William Servat said on Tuesday Antoine Dupont missing the Nations Championship was a “shame” after the superstar scrum-half withdraw from the July campaign with a calf injury.
‘Uneasy’ legend’s retirement backflip confirmed as Wallabies name three rookies for July Tests
Veteran prop James Slipper has been named in coach Joe Schmidt’s 37-strong Australia squad for the opening three Tests of the Nations Championship, with a trio of potential debutants also included.
James Slipper answers SOS for coach Joe Schmidt’s last three Wallabies Tests
Veteran prop out of retirement for Nations Championship Tests
Three uncapped players in line for potential debuts against Ireland
Veteran prop James Slipper and uncapped trio Declan Meredith, Lachlan Shaw and Miles Amatosero have all been included in the Wallabies squad for next month’s Nations Championship Tests in Australia.
After retiring last November, 37-year-old Slipper could surpass All Blacks great Sam Whitelock as rugby’s second most-capped player in history after answering an SOS call from coach Joe Schmidt.
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