Rugby Union News
A gripping second test and series was won by the last play of the match in Melbourne
The officials for this match:
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) & Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Television Match Official (TMO): Eric Gauzins (France
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Continue reading...The Wallabies have made three changes to its starting side for the second Test against the British & Irish Lions at the MCG, with flanker Rob Valetini returning from injury.
More than 1,000 players from both codes taking action
Solicitor under ‘misapprehension’ about responsibilities
The judge presiding over the two brain injury lawsuits in rugby league and union has issued an extraordinary criticism of the solicitor acting on behalf of the injured players, saying that he had been under a “misapprehension” about his responsibilities and that “he seems to have a problem with the English language”.
Senior master Jeremy Cook said that Richard Boardman, whose firm Rylands Garth is representing more than 1,000 players across both codes, had failed to disclose material to the defendants, World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union, the Welsh Rugby Union, and Rugby Football League.
Continue reading...The Brisbane Broncos assistant coach on the Lions, union’s struggle in Australia and that World Cup fight
Ben Te’o emerges from Brisbane Broncos’ headquarters, umbrella in one hand and walking a little gingerly. As we head for the cafe at the Broncos’ lavish training base, where Te’o is now an assistant coach, he explains he has just spent two nights in hospital due to a burst appendix. To his great credit, he still felt obliged to meet, and he is good company. It is entirely complimentary to remark that Te’o has never struck as an overly complicated person. He says it how he sees it. And there is plenty to say.
It is 8am, the day before the first British & Irish Lions Test in Brisbane. Te’o has been in demand of late, for the local press wants to know how the Lions measures up against NRL’s State of Origin and the former England centre is the only man to both represent the former and play in the latter.
Continue reading...Wallabies winger Harry Potter rubbished suggestions Wednesday that Australia have a “losing mentality”, but admitted they must be better in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions.
An inconsistent British and Irish Lions have survived a ferocious battle to stretch their unbeaten streak to seven with a nervy 24-19 takedown of an aggressive First Nations and Pasifika XV.
Wallabies centre Len Ikitau says it’s up to him to provide the platform for prized recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to terrorise the British and Irish Lions at the MCG on Saturday night.
It may open the Lions to accusations of parochialism, but there is a compelling case for staying in Europe
It may be too early to start asking existential questions about the British & Irish Lions but, sitting in Melbourne’s Southbank, slap bang in the middle of Aussie rules territory, where union makes barely a ripple, you begin to wonder. The sea of red will roll in at the weekend but, for now, Melbourne is pretty much oblivious. “Some kind of carnival on I think,” was one taxi driver’s assessment.
None of this is to criticise Australia. It is a wonderful country, sports mad and as the loosehead prop James Slipper says of the locals: “They’re still Australian, so they’ll be there. I know they’ll be there. It’s one thing about this country, regardless of the sport, they’ll get behind the national colours.”
Continue reading...Australian veteran James Slipper has hit back at suggestions the Wallabies had a “losing mentality” during last week’s British & Irish Lions series opener loss in Brisbane.
Scotland coach tasked with reviving Welsh fortunes
‘Becoming head coach of my country is a massive honour’
Wales have appointed Steve Tandy as their new head coach. The 45-year-old Welshman will become the permanent successor to Warren Gatland on 1 September following almost six years as Scotland’s defence coach.
Tandy is tasked with reviving his country’s fortunes after their record 18-match losing run finally ended on 12 July with a 31-22 victory over Japan in Kobe. His first match in charge will be on Sunday 9 November against Argentina in Cardiff, which will be followed by meetings with Japan, New Zealand and the world champions, South Africa, on the following three weekends.
Continue reading...Veteran calls for history to repeat after being part of fightback in 2013
Australia boosted by return of Rob Valetini and Will Skelton from injury
Steely Wallabies veteran James Slipper is urging his battered troops to block out the “noise” as they look to stop the Lions juggernaut in their do-or-die second Test in Melbourne.
The series is on the line at the MCG on Saturday night with Slipper offering a unique perspective in the current Australian line-up as the only player to have taken part in two series.
Continue reading...The British media has ripped into the “toothless” and “un-Australian” Wallabies following Saturday’s loss to the Lions in the series opener in Brisbane.
Australia head coach Joe Schmidt said he was proud of the fight his side showed against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday, but called on them to improve for the second Test next week.
A relentless British and Irish Lions were ferocious in attack and solid in defence to edge a dogged Australia and win a bruising first Test 27-19 in Brisbane on Saturday, with skipper Maro Itoje “delighted”.