Category: Australia Rugby

Australia’s Rugby Championship dream is over after the All Blacks sealed a 28-14 victory at Perth Stadium on Saturday evening, whitewashing the two-match Bledisloe Cup.

• Coach Joe Schmidt makes five changes to XV for final Rugby Championship Test

• James Slipper to play 151st and final game after announcing retirement

Lock Will Skelton and scrumhalf Jake Gordon are among five changes to Australia’s starting 15 for the final Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand in Perth on Saturday.

Skelton replaces the dropped Lukhan Salakaia-Loto after returning from club duty in France, while coach Joe Schmidt’s preferred No 9 Gordon returns for his first test since the British & Irish Lions series after recovering from a hamstring strain.

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Wallabies rookie playmaker Tane Edmed will go from onlooker to the main man, elevated from his 80-minute stint on the bench last weekend to starting No.10 for the second Bledisloe Cup clash in Perth.

Veteran prop James Slipper will call time on his record-setting Wallabies career after Australia’s Bledisloe Cup clash against New Zealand on Saturday in Perth.

It was a brave performance from Australia, but once again, they’ve fallen short in a Eden Park Test match against the All Blacks, going down 33-24.

The Wallabies’ Bledisloe Cup drought has extended to 23 years following another loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park, but there was a lot the green and gold will, and should, be proud about.

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson says his team is ready to defy history by beating New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday.

Veteran prop James Slipper will become the first player to represent the Wallabies in 150 Tests after being selected to start in Australia’s front-row in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup battle against New Zealand in Auckland.

Flanker Ardie Savea will captain New Zealand against Australia as the All Blacks made four changes to their starting side that suffered a record defeat to South Africa.

Wallabies young gun Max Jorgensen wasn’t alive the last time Australia beat the All Blacks at Eden Park and his role in ending a two-decade losing streak could be increased after an injury to fullback Andrew Kellaway.

• Flyhalf included despite flying to England to join new club Leicester

• Coach Joe Schmidt’s preferred scrumhalf Jake Gordon returns

James O’Connor has been retained in Australia’s squad for back-to-back Rugby Championship Tests against New Zealand despite flying to England on Monday to join his new club Leicester.

O’Connor’s inclusion denies Western Force playmaker Ben Donaldson a recall following his recovery from a thigh injury, with coach Joe Schmidt opting for Tom Lynagh and Tane Edmed as his other flyhalf options in the 34-man squad named on Thursday.

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Halfback Jake Gordon has recovered from a hamstring injury to be named in an extended 34-man Wallabies squad for Saturday week’s Bledisloe Cup clash against New Zealand in Auckland.

French forwards Axelle Berthoumieu, accused of biting, and Manae Feleu are set to miss the Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final after a disciplinary panel on Monday recommended bans for both.

The All Blacks’ record loss to South Africa was blasted by New Zealand media and commentators on Sunday, with former captain Kieran Read asserting rugby’s most famous team lacked a “spine”.

Canada eased into the semi-finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup with a 46-5 thrashing of Australia in Bristol on Saturday.