| Sport: Rugby |
 |
|
Australia vs Fiji
Australia demolish Fiji 49-0
Australia thrashed Fiji 49-0 in Perth on Saturday to chalk up their biggest test victory in nearly 11 months and earn a timely confidence boost ahead of the World Cup in France. The Wallabies followed back-to-back wins over Wales by overwhelming their Pacific island neighbours with eight tries, five in the first half. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
New Zealand vs France
New Zealand inflict record 61-10 defeat on France
New Zealand inflicted the heaviest defeat suffered by France in more than a century of international rugby when they strolled to a 61-10 in the second test on Saturday. Inspired by a dominant forward display, the All Blacks followed up last week's 42-11 win in Auckland with a ruthless nine-try demolition. |
|
|
|
Springboks vs Samoa
Boks score five tries to beat Samoa 35-8
South Africa registered five tries to win a bruising encounter with Samoa 35-8 on Saturday. The Springboks used their entire bench as wing Ashwin Willemse, centre Wayne Julies, scrumhalf Enrico Januarie and flanker Luke Watson all left the field through injury in the one-off Test.
|
|
|
|
Winds of change to sweep SA rugby
Radical changes are set to sweep through South African rugby following the World Cup in France later this year. According to media reports the first Springbok team of 2008 will consist of at least 10 black and coloured players. National coach Jake White will also be replaced by the country's first black Springbok coach -- Peter de Villiers. |
|
|
|
South Africa vs Samoa
Bok Cup hopefuls put to the test
With only 30 places available for the World Cup, competition in the South African squad is as fierce as ever as a bunch of fringe players look to impress national coach Jake White this weekend when the Springboks face Samoa in a one-off Test at Ellis Park. |
|
|
|
South Africa vs Samoa
New-look Boks face physical Samoa
A new-look South African side will hope to impress coach Jake White in a one-off international against Samoa in Johannesburg on Saturday. White has made 13 changes to the starting team that completed a 2-0 series win over England last weekend, resting most of his first-choice players and handing a debut to flanker Luke Watson. |
|
|
|
Rugby
Pienaar backs Boks for World Cup glory
South Africa are serious contenders to win this year's tournament, according to 1995 Rugby World Cup-winning skipper Francois Pienaar. "We have the best chance to win a World Cup since 1995," Pienaar told BBC Sport. "There is tremendous talent in South Africa, the squad is really impressive and there is a real sense of optimism." |
|
|
|
New Zealand vs France
War of words overshadows All Black-France Test
The All Blacks are poised to break the world record for consecutive home-Test wins when they play France on Saturday, but a spiteful war of words is threatening to take the gloss off the performance. If, as expected, the All Blacks beat the seriously under-strength French side it will stretch their unbeaten home run to 23 Tests. |
|
|
|
South Africa vs Samoa
Watson to make Bok debut
Stormers loose forward Luke Watson will make his Springbok debut on Saturday after being named on Wednesday in a new-look South African starting XV for a one-off Test against Samoa. Watson was not chosen by coach Jake White in his original 45-man training squad for the Tests against England and Samoa. |
|
|
|
New Zealand vs France
France accuse All Blacks of disrespect
France have accused All Blacks coach Graham Henry of showing disrespect by criticising them for playing negatively in their 42-11 first-Test loss. "We're going to show them on the pitch that we deserve a bit more respect than what they give to us," French fullback Thomas Castaignede told reporters on Wednesday. |
|
|
|
Australia vs Fiji
Wallabies recall Tuqiri for Fiji Test
The return of brilliant winger Lote Tuqiri heads a comprehensive list of changes for Australia ahead of their rugby Test against Fiji on Saturday. As he searches for his best World Cup and Tri-Nations combination, Wallabies coach Jon Connolly retained just five of his starting 15 from their 31-0 win over Wales last Saturday. |
|
|
|
South Africa vs Samoa
Samoa coach: Boks potentially the best
Samoa coach Michael Jones acclaimed South Africa on Tuesday as potentially the best side in the world after naming his team for Saturday's one-off Test. "To play against the might of the Springboks at Ellis Park is the ultimate and it will provide a benchmark for the players as we look at the bigger picture, which is the World Cup in September," Jones told reporters. |
|
|
|
New Zealand vs France
Collins back in All Blacks line-up to face French
New Zealand flanker Jerry Collins has recovered from a heel injury and will take his place in the pack for the second Test against France in Wellington on Saturday. All Blacks coach Graham Henry made six changes to the side that routed the inexperienced French party 42-11 at Auckland's Eden Park last weekend. |
|
|
|
Rugby
Boks scrum down for rugby fund
What's in a scrum? Put that question to rugby league fans, and the answer would probably be, "not much". Ask a rugby union fan, and it would almost definitely be "everything". Ask a beneficiary of the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson fund, and it might be a bit of both. |
|
|
|
Rugby
Nine players return to Bok squad
Nine players have returned to the Springbok squad ahead of Saturday's Test against Samoa in Johannesburg, team manager Zola Yeye said on Monday. Hooker Bismarck du Plessis, flanks Luke Watson, Wikus van Heerden and Pedrie Wannenburg, flyhalf Derick Hougaard, centres Wayne Julies and Waylon Murray, wing JP Pietersen and lock Johan Ackermann are back in the camp. |
|
|
|
Tri-Nations
Australia to rest players as SA trip looms
Australia coach John Connolly is set to rest players for Saturday's test against Fiji in Perth, keeping his powder dry before the opening Tri-Nations clash with the Springboks. Connolly sees the game against in-form South Africa in Cape Town on June 16 as the first genuine test of the year for the Wallabies. |
|
|
|
Argentina vs Ireland
Pumas beat Ireland 16-0 to sweep two-Test series
Argentina's 16-0 win over Ireland at Velez Sarsfield completed a two-Test rugby sweep and its biggest winning margin over the Europeans on Saturday. Flyhalf Federico Todeschini notched three out of four penalty kicks and converted the 79th-minute try by inside centre Manuel Contepomi. |
|
|
|
France vs New Zealand
France upbeat despite heavy loss
France coach Bernard Laporte was full of praise for his young team despite their comprehensive 42-11 loss to New Zealand in the first Test at Eden Park on Saturday. The odds were heavily stacked against the French after they had to field an under-strength team because most of their senior players stayed home. |
|
|
|
Australia vs Wales
Wallabies devour toothless Wales
Australia scored three tries and shut out a toothless Welsh team to win their rugby union international 31-0 in Brisbane on Saturday. Leading only 6-0 after a dour first half, the Wallabies cut loose in the second 40 minutes to demoralise a second-string Welsh outfit. |
|
|
|
France vs New Zealand
New Zealand thrash France 42-11
World Cup favourite New Zealand confronted its worst-case scenario when it lost flyhalf Daniel Carter to an injury while beating France 42-11 in a rugby union international on Saturday. Carter, principal cog in the All Blacks' Cup machine, did not return to the field for the second half at Eden Park. |
|
|
| MORE ARTICLES |
|
|
| South Africa vs England Boks hammer England 55-22 |
| South Africa vs England Skinstad back in Bok mix after four years |
| Rugby Rugby dragged down by the lifeless colour of money |
| France vs New Zealand All Blacks warned to hold back against French |
| South Africa vs England England braced for more Bok pain |
| France vs New Zealand Credibility on the line for All Blacks |
| South Africa vs England Boks make three changes to line-up |
| France vs New Zealand France name inexperienced side to face New Zealand |
| Rugby All Blacks name team to face weakened France |
| South Africa vs England Player boost for Boks ahead of second Test |
| South Africa vs England Back to business for the Boks |
| London Sevens New Zealand prevail in London Sevens final |
| South Africa vs England South Africa crush weakened England |
| South Africa vs England Smit: Danger lies in the unknown |
| Bok fans give thumbs-down |
| South Africa vs England England await tough Bok encounter |
| Rugby SA Rugby launches Boktown for 2007 season |
| South Africa vs England White sticks with his tried and trusted |
| South Africa vs England England coach names three new caps for Bok Test |
| Rugby Jake White looks to World Cup |
| Rugby White downplays Watson saga |
| Rugby Hougaard added to Bok squad |
| Super 14 Eddie Jones parts ways with Reds |
| Super 14 Muir: 'We made too many mistakes' |
| Pacific Nations Cup Samoa beat Fiji in Pacific Nations Cup opener |
