Category: Australia Rugby

• 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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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.

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).

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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.

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.

• 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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Japan suspended head coach Eddie Jones for four games and cut his salary on Wednesday for “verbal abuse directed at local officials” during an Australian tour.

The Titans have pulled off a major cross-code coup with sevens superstar Teagan Levi signing for the 2026 NRLW season after an earlier attempt to poach the playmaker and her try-scoring sister fell through.

Zac Lomax might just have arrived in Super Rugby, but already the code-hopper has made a giant impression.

Zac Lomax’s Super Rugby debut has ended in heartache against the Drua in Fiji – but the former NRL star showed more than enough to suggest he could wear a Wallabies jersey by the time Australia hosts next year’s World Cup.

Zac Lomax’s Super Rugby debut has been delayed after the former NRL star was a late withdrawal from the Western Force’s big win over the Queensland Red on Saturday night.

It has been less than 24 hours since the Manly Sea Eagles confirmed the termination of Anthony Seibold.