Category: Australia Rugby

Former England forward turned Joe Schmidt’s right-hand man is well placed to gauge the challenge facing Australia

Time was, and not so long ago, when Steve Borthwick and Geoff Parling were squaring off against each other at lineouts, Borthwick at Saracens, Parling for Leicester. In the early 2010s the clubs were often drawn together in the playoffs – there were a couple of finals in 2010 and 2011, a semi in 2012. “Humdingers,” Parling says now.

A decade later, they will be at it again at Twickenham on Saturday, as coaches this time. Borthwick, of course, with England, and Parling with Australia, where he works as Joe Schmidt’s right-hand man.

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• Four home nations emblems woven into the fabric
• Fixture confusion unresolved over Melbourne dates

Seldom in the history of sports kit has more breathless hype surrounded the launch of a humble rugby jersey. “A masterpiece” and “a wearable piece of art” were among the gushing tributes paid to the shirt the players will wear on next year’s men’s British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, which does admittedly look slightly different to its predecessors.

In a “seamless tapestry” the emblems of all four home nations have been woven into the fabric and there is even a tag on the garment which, if scanned, allows supporters to tap into an app containing extra rugby-related digital content.

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The Wallabies’ disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign still haunts Will Skelton, with the towering lock having returned to national team duty desperate to make amends on Australia’s Grand Slam tour of the UK and Ireland.
Skelton was captain of Australia’s squad at last year’s World Cup in France but, because of injury, only played one match in the tournament.

New Zealand may only have edged out England 24-22 at Twickenham on Saturday but two-try star Mark Tele’a victory in their November international opener was “massive” for the All Blacks.

Wallabies prop Angus Bell has defended the decision to select league convert Joseph Sua’ali’i for the upcoming tour of England after critics labelled the ex-Roosters inclusion a “disgrace.”

Code-hopper Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is being thrust straight into the big-time after being named in the 34-man Wallabies squad for spring tour of the UK fresh out the NRL having not played a game of rugby since he was a schoolboy star.

Former Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom has claimed the French court hearing that resulted in his five-year jail sentence was a “clear perversion of justice.”

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s only conversation when he met Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt on the weekend was about family, but the rugby convert has declared he’s “ready” to suit up in a gold jersey as soon as he’s called on.

An international arrest warrant was issued on Friday against former Australia rugby captain Rocky Elsom, who was sentenced in his absence to five years in prison by a French court for misuse of corporate assets, a lawyer in the case told AFP.

Axed Super Rugby club the Melbourne Rebels have kicked off a $30 million course case against Rugby Australia in the Federal Court of Australia to try get themselves back into the Pacific competition.

It may be at least five years until we see Joseph Suaalii back in the NRL again amid the report that his rich deal with Rugby Australia includes a secret contract clause.

Just 10 days after his rugby league career ended, Joseph Manu has been captured training with his new Japanese rugby outfit Toyota Verblitz.

Leicester head coach Michael Cheika has been hit with a two-week suspension after being found guilty of disrespecting an independent match-day doctor.

A pitch invader was knocked out cold by a security guard during a rugby match in South Africa.

Rugby convert Joseph Suaalii may have got a little ahead of himself before he even suits up for his first game in the 15-man code.