Rugby Union Topics

All Blacks Bench Sonny Bill

New Zealand All Blacks coach Graham Henry will start star centre Sonny Bill Williams on the bench in Saturday night’s Tri-Nations clash against the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

Brown Ruled out of Wallabies World Cup Squad

Western Force flanker Richard Brown has been ruled out of contention for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the 23-capped Wallabies Test star undergoing surgery for a shoulder injury that will sideline him until next year.

Kepu Keen to Repay Mentors with Wallabies Win

Young Australian prop Sekope Kepu is confident the Wallabies can claim an upset win over the All Blacks in their upcoming Tri-Nations Test, a victory he hopes to have a big part of repaying the faith rival Kiwi scrum coach Mike Cron has always had in him.

O’Connor Confident Wallabies Can Win Bledisloe Cup

Still on a high after Australia’s commanding win over South Africa in Saturday night’s opening Tri-Nations encounter, young Wallabies utility James O’Connor is confident they can continue their good form with an upset over New Zealand for the Bledisloe Cup honours.

Ex-Boks Coach Backs Wallabies

Former South Africa supercoach Jack White may have lead the Springboks to their 2004 Tri Nations title and 2007 Rugby World Cup victory, but he is tipping the Australian Wallabies to win this year’s Tri Nations tournament.

All Blacks to Rest Stars for Tri Nations Crusade

After a chaotic Super Rugby season, All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen has confirmed that many of the Crusaders reps in the New Zealand Test squad will be given a deserved rest throughout the upcoming 2011 Tri Nations tournament.

Wallabies Tri Nations Team Announced

Australian Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has made seven changes to the line-up that will play in the opening Tri-Nations Test against South Africa this Saturday after the Aussies’ upset loss to Samoa last Sunday.

PM Tips Samoa for Rugby World Cup Upset

Following Samoa’s monumental Rugby Test boilover in defeating Australia on the weekend, the Samoan Prime Minister is enthusiastic that his country’s team has what it takes to go all the way to a 2011 Rugby World Cup win.  1

Wallabies Great Tips Flat All Blacks

Former Wallabies fly-half and Rugby World Cup champion Elton Flatley has warned an ageing All Blacks outfit that they will have to lift their game ahead of the Rugby Union Tri-Nations if they are to salute as the favourites, saying the gun, young Australian squad have the skills and stamina for an upset.

Chiefs Confirm Cruden Recruitment

The Chiefs Super Ruby club have this week confirmed the signing of Hurricanes five-eighth Aaron Cruden, the All Black to play for the Waikato-based outfit from 2012.