Hayne's Olympic sevens dream in jeopardy due to hip injury

11:12 PM GMT

Jarryd Hayne has retuned to Australia in a bid to cure a niggling hip injury that potentially jeopardises his prospects of making the Fijian Olympic sevens rugby team.

The former Parramatta NRL star and San Francisco 49ers NFL player arrived back in Sydney from Fiji on Thursday evening, on the same flight as Eels winger Semi Radradra, who was met at Sydney Airport by police.

Radradra was taken to nearby Mascot police station, where he was assisting police with inquiries in relation to an allegation of domestic violence.

Former NSW Blues and Kangaroos star Hayne is trying to secure a spot in the Fijian sevens side, a tough ask given they have won the last two World Series titles.

Their squad will be named in two weeks, with Hayne battling to overcome a niggling injury.

"The training schedule is pretty hectic at the moment and if I don't get it right, it could jeopardise the future," Hayne said on Thursday evening.

He said he had considered returning to Australia last week.

"We got through and we were managing it and then Tuesday I strained my quad," Hayne said.

"We knew with the amount of physio I'd been doing and the amount of treatment I'd been getting that if I didn't get my hip right, it was just going to be one of those ongoing issues.

"I was at training today (Thursday) and we thought about running, but the swelling didn't go down as much as we wanted to.

"There was an option to come back here and see my people, the biggest probably my chiropractor.

"To get my hip right and hopefully getting the line right and that should hopefully take a lot of my pressure off my quad and relieve a bit of swelling around my leg.

"The coaching staff have been great in Fiji, just being able to give me time to get it 100 per cent.

"Because the way we run over there it's very intense, a lot of kilometres in my legs, so a little niggling injury like this really can jeopardise it if you don't get it right.

"I think the best thing would be for me to get the treatment, get my hip 100 per cent and hopefully by Monday I'll be flying again."

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Hayne's Olympic sevens dream in jeopardy due to hip injury

Gibson emerging from rocky Waratahs learning curve

Italy prop Cittadini swaps Wasps for Bayonne

4:52 PM GMT

Italy prop Lorenzo Cittadini has left Wasps to join French outfit Bayonne.

Wasps agreed to release the 33-year-old from the final year of his contract with the Aviva Premiership club, owing to the arrival of Ireland prop Marty Moore from Leinster.

Coventry outfit Wasps also boast Jake Cooper-Woolley and Phil Swainston among their tighthead ranks, and were unable to guarantee Cittadini regular rugby.

"Citta has been outstanding for Wasps during his two seasons with us," said rugby director Dai Young.

"He's a fantastic character to have around the training base and we have loved having him here.

"Because he's such a good guy and been so good for Wasps, we didn't want to stand in his way when he had the opportunity to secure a longer-term deal elsewhere, where he is likely to get more game time.

"We appreciate it is a better option for him and his family and we wish him the very best for the future."

Cittadini traded Treviso for Wasps in 2014, but now the 50-cap front-rower will move on to Basque club Bayonne.

"I would like to thank (Wasps owner) Derek Richardson, Dai Young and all the coaching staff for the opportunity they gave me to improve as a player and challenge at the highest level in England and Europe as well," he said.

"I have really enjoyed these two years at Wasps. Everybody made me feel at home.

"I want also to thank all the players, because it was really easy to settle in the team when I arrived.

"It was a very difficult decision to take. I feel very sad about leaving the club, but I want to look at this move as a very good opportunity in the last few years of my career."

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Italy prop Cittadini swaps Wasps for Bayonne

Newcastle sign South African hooker Cooper

2:42 PM GMT

Newcastle have signed hooker Kyle Cooper from South African Super Rugby side the Sharks.

Cooper, 27, has made nine Super Rugby appearances this season and is a former South Africa Under-20 international.

He becomes the Aviva Premiership club's 11th summer signing, and Falcons rugby director Dean Richards said: "We are delighted to have tied up a deal for Kyle, who has vast experience at a high level.

"He has played a lot of Super Rugby for the Sharks, he is a quality player and his arrival gives us significant competition for places at hooker along with the likes of Scott Lawson, Ben Sowrey, Santiago Socino and David Nelson."

Cooper, who is due to arrive at Kingston Park in late August, added: "I hope to bring excitement and a positive energy. I love the physical game that Newcastle play."

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Bristol wrap up signing of prop Tonga'uiha

9:46 AM GMT

Bristol have completed the signing of former Northampton prop Soane Tonga'uiha.

The Aviva Premiership club announced his move on a one-year deal from French club Oyonnax.

Tonga international Tonga'uiha, 34, spent seven seasons with Saints before moving into the French Top 14.

"Soane has a wealth of experience and has proven himself to be a consistent performer at the highest level," Bristol rugby director Andy Robinson told the club's official website.

"He will provide excellent guidance for our young props and understands what is required to be successful in the Premiership.

"We look forward to welcoming him into the squad for pre-season."

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Worcester release director of rugby Ryan

9:20 AM GMT

Worcester have announced that rugby director Dean Ryan has left the Aviva Premiership club.

The Warriors said that Ryan "has been released from his contract and will leave his post immediately."

Ryan's exit comes barely two months before the new Premiership season starts.

Worcester said that their senior management team will consist of head coach Carl Hogg and high performance director Nick Johnston, who will both report to club chief executive Jim O'Toole.

Hogg will retain responsibility for the first-team squad, with Johnston continuing his work with the academy, medical, sports science and player welfare departments at Sixways.

Worcester, with Ryan at the helm, have made a number of new signings in readiness for next term, including England squad centre Ben Te'o from Leinster.

Recent media speculation suggested that 50-year-old Ryan had been unhappy with finances made available in terms of Warriors' playing budget.

Ryan joined Worcester in May 2013, and although the Warriors were relegated a year later, they regained Premiership status at the first attempt and retained a top-flight position last term.

The former England number eight, meanwhile, has been strongly linked to the top job at Bath, which has been vacant since Mike Ford's departure from the Recreation Ground.

O'Toole said: "We are very sorry to see Dean move on from Sixways.

"He has been instrumental in developing and putting in place our long-term plan, and we have been delighted with our progress and the momentum we have built up over the last three years.

"Dean has also helped to build a team around him who are ready to step up to the next level and build on that progress.

"For the first time in Warriors' history we have an active succession plan which has already kicked-in.

"We are an ambitious club with sights on the top six places in the Premiership and the Champions Cup."

In a statement announcing Ryan's exit, the club added: "The Warriors board has committed to a 25 percent increase in the rugby budget for the 2016-17 season.

"And it is following a long-term strategy based on the development of a solid base of English-qualified players via an annual £500,000 investment in the academy, a £500,000 academy house, a £3.5million investment in top-class facilities and infrastructure and the commitment to spending to the Premiership salary cap to make the current squad as competitive as possible."

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Champions Cup draw: Saracens meet Toulon

1:43 PM GMT

Holders Saracens and triple European title winners Toulon will meet in the pool stage of next season's Champions Cup.

Saracens, who landed the trophy last month following victory over Racing 92 in Lyon, have been grouped with a club they lost to in the 2014 European final.

The pool is completed by solitary Welsh representatives the Scarlets, while Sale Sharks will ensure two all-Aviva Premiership games against Saracens.

Exeter, beaten by Saracens in last season's Premiership final, are reunited with French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne -- they met twice in the pool stage last term -- while Leicester face recently-crowned French champions Racing 92, who beat them in the Champions Cup semifinals two months ago.

Elsewhere, Wasps are in the same group as four-time European champions Toulouse and Guinness PRO12 title holders Connacht, with Northampton drawn alongside Leinster, Montpellier and Castres.

The European Challenge Cup pool draw, which was also conducted at European Professional Club Rugby headquarters in Neuchatel, Switzerland on Wednesday, produced an intriguing battle of the west country, with Bath and Bristol drawn together.

Bristol, back in European competition following their return to the Aviva Premiership for next season, were grouped alongside Bath, Cardiff Blues and French club Pau.

Harlequins, last season's Challenge Cup runners-up, will meet Edinburgh, Stade Francais and Romanian side Timisoara Saracens in Pool Five, while Gloucester were drawn in Pool One alongside La Rochelle, Treviso and Bayonne.

Elsewhere, Worcester face a long trip to Russia with Enisei-STM in their group, along with Newport Gwent Dragons and Brive, and Newcastle line up in Pool Two alongside Ospreys, Grenoble and Lyon.

Champions Cup

Pool One - Racing 92, Glasgow, Leicester, Munster

Pool Two - Connacht, Wasps, Toulouse, Zebre

Pool Three - Saracens, Toulon, Scarlets, Sale Sharks

Pool Four - Leinster, Montpellier, Northampton, Castres

Pool Five - Exeter, Clermont Auvergne, Ulster, Bordeaux-Begles.

Challenge Cup

Pool One - La Rochelle, Gloucester, Treviso, Bayonne

Pool Two - Ospreys, Grenoble, Newcastle, Lyon

Pool Three - Brive, Worcester, Newport Gwent Dragons, Enisei STM

Pool Four - Cardiff Blues, Bath, Pau, Bristol

Pool Five - Harlequins, Edinburgh, Stade Francais, Timisoara Saracens.

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Champions Cup draw: Saracens meet Toulon

Franks commits to Irish despite relegation

12:14 PM GMT

New Zealand international prop Ben Franks has committed his future to London Irish.

Franks, a double World Cup winner, joined the Exiles on a three-year deal last summer.

But speculation had been rife about him potentially moving to an Aviva Premiership club, particularly following Irish's relegation from the top flight.

The 32-year-old was injured for most of Irish's Premiership run-in, which ended with the Exiles finishing seven points behind 11th-placed Newcastle.

"Once I'd had a few weeks away to clear my mind, my gut feeling was not to miss out on an opportunity, and I'm here ready to work hard," said 45 times-capped Franks, in a statement released by Irish.

"I am excited at the prospect of getting a solid pre-season under my belt, mainly because I have not done one for many years.

"The last time I did a pre-season was when I was 23. I'm 32 now, and being an All Black you don't get the opportunity to do a full summer programme."

Irish head of rugby operations Glenn Delaney, meanwhile, described Franks confirming his Exiles future as "a real statement of intent."

Delaney added: "Ben is a world-class player, and his experience in the pack will be vital as we look to make an immediate return to the Premiership.

"We have a number of exciting young talents coming through the ranks at present, and his experience and know-how, both on and off the field, will be invaluable.

"It's a real statement of intent, and underlines the ambition of the club and the owners."

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Franks commits to Irish despite relegation

Dowd: Global season only possible through give, and take

GB, Australia learn Olympic Sevens opponents

8:18 PM GMT

Great Britain will face New Zealand in the pool stages of the Rio Olympics Rugby Sevens.

The draw was made in Brazil on Tuesday, which saw Kenya and Japan also placed in Pool C.

Pool B will comprise of South Africa, Australia, France and Spain, while favourites Fiji are in Pool A along with Argentina, hosts Brazil, and defending Olympic champions the United States.

The competition will run from Aug. 9-11 at Deodoro Olympic Park, where the top two teams from each pool, plus the two best third-placed sides, will progress to the quarterfinals.

In the women's draw, Pool A has top seeds and reigning World Rugby Women's Sevens Series champions Australia with USA, Fiji and Colombia.

Great Britain are in Pool C, where they will meet Brazil, Canada and Japan.

New Zealand, Spain, France and Kenya will contest Group B.

Incoming World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: "I anticipate that it will be one of the highlights of Rio 2016 as we showcase this great sport to a new audience of hundreds of millions around the world and inspire the next generation to get into rugby."

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Wasps sign Matt Symons from London Irish

11:19 AM GMT

Wasps have bolstered their pack for the new season with the signing of second-row Matt Symons from London Irish.

Englishman Symons spent three years in New Zealand after leaving Esher in 2012, being named vice captain of the Chiefs in 2015, and was the Exiles' player of the season as they suffered relegation from the Aviva Premiership last season.

The lock is Wasps' ninth signing of the summer and will compete with Joe Launchbury, James Gaskell, Kearnan Myall, James Cannon and Will Rowlands for a starting spot next season, following the departure of Bradley Davies.

Symons said: "I have really enjoyed my time at London Irish and am very grateful for the opportunity of playing this season. There are some outstanding players and people at the club and I am sure they will be back in the Premiership in 2017.

"Wasps is a club that has played an exciting style and successful style of rugby this season. After speaking with Dai, I was very excited at the direction the team is headed in and look forward to joining up with them in the summer."

Director of Rugby Dai Young added: "Matt is a very talented player and we're really pleased to have him join the squad ahead of next season."

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Wasps sign Matt Symons from London Irish

Monday Maul: Where has it all gone right for England?

Ireland's Fitzgerald retires after neck injury

8:48 AM GMT

Ireland international Luke Fitzgerald has announced his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect at the age of 28.

Leinster, Fitzgerald's provincial team, confirmed the news on their official website, stating that he had been advised to retire on medical grounds after suffering a neck injury in the Guinness PRO12 final against Connacht last month.

The wing, centre or fullback won 34 Ireland caps and toured South Africa with the 2009 British and Irish Lions.

Fitzgerald made his Leinster debut in 2006 and went on to make more than 150 appearances for them, scoring 32 tries.

He helped the Dublin-based outfit win the Heineken Cup three times and land three PRO12 titles.

He first featured for Ireland almost 10 years ago, following in the footsteps of his father Des, who also won 34 caps, but Fitzgerald's career was also affected by various injury setbacks.

His final Test match appearance came in Ireland's World Cup quarter-final defeat against Argentina last October, when he scored a try.

"I've had a wonderful rugby career, which makes it easy for me to move on to the next stage of my life," Fitzgerald said via a statement.

"It's been an amazing journey in which I got to experience the highs and lows that come with professional sport, and I have learned a huge amount from each experience. I'm now building on that foundation through completing my business degree.

"I am very thankful for the opportunities I have had, the people with whom I've worked and the lifelong friends I have made.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the medical staff and coaches I've worked with throughout my career, and at Blackrock College.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to represent my province, my country and the British and Irish Lions during my career, and I'm glad to finish my career as a 'one club man'.

"The support I got while playing for all three teams during the good times and the tough times is something I will cherish and never forget for the rest of my life."

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NZ Rugby defends lofty Lions ticket prices

Wales forward Coombs forced to retire

1:10 PM GMT

Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons forward Andrew Coombs has announced his retirement from rugby due to injury.

The 31-year-old lock, having undergone a host of operations on the serious knee injury which has kept him sidelined for 14 months, has been advised not to return to action following specialist consultation.

Coombs has now called time on his rugby career with immediate effect.

Newport chief executive Stuart Davies said: "Andrew was highly regarded and valued by his teammates, and his retirement represents a significant loss to everyone at Rodney Parade. We would like to acknowledge the fantastic contribution Andrew made during his seven seasons with the region.

"I can personally empathise with the problems Andrew has faced over the last year, and the difficult decision he has had to make. I wish him the very best in his future endeavours."

Coombs won 10 caps for Wales, with his last appearance coming against England at Twickenham in the 2014 Six Nations.

He sustained his career-ending knee injury after falling awkwardly at a line-out during Newport's European Rugby Challenge Cup quarterfinal victory over Cardiff last April.

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Wales forward Coombs forced to retire

'England are still two years behind All Blacks'

1:58 PM GMT

Former British & Irish Lions head coach Sir Ian McGeechan believes England are two years behind world champions New Zealand despite their 3-0 series whitewash of Australia.

Saturday's 44-40 victory in Sydney made it nine straight wins for England since Eddie Jones was appointed head coach in November, following their group-stage exit from the World Cup on home soil.

England end a season in which they won the Six Nations Grand Slam placed second in the world rankings, but McGeechan feels the gap to the all-conquering All Blacks is considerable.

"There is no doubt that England have been absolutely outstanding in winning 3-0 in Australia," he wrote in his column in the Sunday Telegraph.

"It is a magnificent achievement, but the truth is that they are still some distance behind New Zealand. In fact, I would say they are two years behind the world champions."

McGeechan has encouraged England to work on getting the ball wide and to recognise mismatches quicker.

"I think that in two years' time Jones will be looking to have found an influx of speed, accuracy and intent that can be put into England's game so that they have the numbers in the outside channels to do some serious damage," he added.

"It is not inherent in the players. Jones is going to have to put it there and give them an England mindset that grows every time they come together.

"England are clearly above Australia and South Africa now, Ireland have made history and Scotland, despite not overly impressing, have won two Test matches, but New Zealand are still some way out on top."

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'England are still two years behind All Blacks'

Australia vs. England: Player ratings

England brush Ireland aside to claim U20 title

8:48 PM GMT

England beat Ireland in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Salford on Saturday to claim the trophy for the third time in four years.

Captain Harry Mallinder provided a memorable display as England proved too good for Ireland, running out 45-21 victors at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Northampton Saints man Mallinder scored two tries, converted five and scored a penalty -- with Joe Marchant also weighing in with a brace of tries.

Callum Chick and Huw Taylor added a try apiece as England dominated the first half and led 21-0 at the interval.

Ireland, appearing in their first final at this level, performed better after the break and racked up three tries of their own through Adam McBurney, Shane Daly and Max Deegan.

But England had the game won and managed to keep Ireland at arm's length to complete an impressive tournament and once again celebrate lifting the trophy.

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Cotter happy to win despite Japan struggle

5:21 PM GMT

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter declared himself happy with Scotland's 21-16 victory over Japan despite an underwhelming performance in Tokyo.

The Scotland team were under the cosh for large chunks of the game but, apart from leaking a brilliant first-half try to Kaito Shigeno, their defence held and in the end their superior scrum paid dividends.

Henry Pyrgos contributed three of the seven penalties -- with Greig Laidlaw adding the other four -- which eventually saw Scotland seal a 2-0 series win over their hosts.

And though Cotter saw room for improvement, the Kiwi-born boss was satisfied to pick up the win.

"If we can have frustrating days and a win at the end of them all the time, I will be happy," he said.

"It was a game that in the context of the end of a season and a long year, to get the win, to grind it out, I am happy.

"I am happy with the character, I'm happy with the way the team applied pressure and finally got the result. It could have gone the other way.

"We weathered a very difficult first half, they flew into us and lifted the intensity from last week, we felt that. It took us a while to wear them down, but we are happy with the result.

"Our last game was the loss against Ireland - so some things are coming right. No coach is ever going to be totally happy and I know we will find parts we need to improve, we saw some of them here. It will be a focus next time we come together."

Pyrgos, captain on the night, reckoned Japan had stepped up a level from the first Test, but his side coped.

He said: "They played at a really high tempo, but that's Japan I suppose. Every time we have played them in the last year we know that is what they bring so we needed to deal with that.

"They scored a good try but the frustrating thing for us was that we could not hold onto the ball."

Losing Japan coach Mark Hammett claimed his side had been "disrespected" after falling to another defeat against the Scots.

He also believed that during a vital period in the second half Scotland were allowed to get away with slowing the ball without being punished.

"I'm really, really proud of the effort. We witnessed a really outstanding game here in Tokyo," he said.

"I don't think the best team won and even talking to the Scottish coaches, they agree. At the end of the day the score is on the board and it will go down as a lost Test match and we are obviously very, very disappointed.

"I feel that perhaps the last two Tests we have been slightly disrespected as a team and what we can achieve. In all that attack, particularly in the second half, we did not get the reward.

"There was obviously a reason the ball was being slowed down. We worked really hard for that but did not get the outcome we believe we should have had."

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Cotter happy to win despite Japan struggle

Cheika bemoans lack of Australian discipline

3:21 PM GMT

ALLIANZ STADIUM, Sydney -- A frustrated Michael Cheika will continue to pursue the official channels as he seeks clarification on certain laws that seem to be a problem for his Wallabies.

Australia slumped to a fourth straight defeat on Saturday night as they were beaten 44-40 by England in a pulsating Test at Allianz Stadium -- the four-point victory giving the tourists a 3-0 series sweep.

For the second time this month, the Wallabies outscored England five tries to four. But they paid the price for some poor discipline, with England sharp-shooter Owen Farrell kicking six penalties in a personal 24-point haul.

"If I was to give it a rating, it would probably be a five or six," Cheika said of the Wallabies' discipline.

"I don't think that all of the penalties, all of that has been just responsible from our discipline. It's been no secret that I haven't been happy with the refereeing and we've tried to make that point, by sending our clips in and following the channels.

"But it's cost us a lot of points, hasn't it? You can't deny that. How many, 66?

While he didn't confirm which areas he was unhappy about, Cheika said he'd already held discussions with officials as to the where the Wallabies were losing out.

The penalty which gave England the breathing space they needed late on appeared to be one such call with the tourists on the right side of referee Nigel Owens' decision despite a clear infringement from lock Maro Itoje.

"Just lots of little things," Cheika replied when asked whether it was the refereeing of the breakdown, specifically, that he was unhappy with.

"They're discussions that I have with the referees. I want to follow the process because if I don't I'm a relatively easy target on that front. And so I would just like to follow the proper process that's in place, which I have been doing, and hope that by being consistent in showing what we feel then we'll get some changes."

While he wasn't confident that would achieve anything, Cheika said he would at least try to convince the officials of the Wallabies' injustices.

A greater focus however, and one he can exercise some actual control over, will be reviewing a series sweep and then picking up the pieces before the Rugby Championship.

"That's only a small part of this post-Test series, the major part will be to assess what we need to do to eliminate the small errors, the accuracy that's shutting down the play that we're creating because we're playing a lot of attacking rugby and we don't want to stop doing that," he said.

"This is always a risk when you do that, that if you're not accurate, and this has been my coaching story since day one, when your teams aren't accurate they get hit a lot on the counter and in this series we haven't been accurate enough with the small details.

"And that's anything from being in a ninth or tenth phase, having the opposition on the back foot, and the small spinning out the back of a ruck and getting kicked through or not holding onto one thing or kicking a ball out into touch that should be going into touch and picking those right times.

'So they're the small accuracies that we need to have to win more moments in a game, and when you win more moments in a game you get the result."

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RFU chairman's role to be salaried for first time

1:52 PM GMT

The position of Rugby Football Union chairman is to be salaried for the first time, the English game's governing body has announced.

A sum of £80,000 has been designated for the post, when previously only expenses were paid.

Bill Beaumont is the outgoing chairman -- the former England captain is leaving to fill the same role at World Rugby -- and the search for his successor is ongoing.

"The position of RFU chairman will now be salaried, £80,000 for a two to three-day week," an RFU spokesman said.

"This move to a remunerated position is in line with similar positions in national and international federations and reflects the stature, remit and workload of the role."

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Dwyer: Wallabies have missed key players

9:33 PM GMT

• 

  Tom Hamilton

  Close

  • Joined ESPN in 2011
  • Grew up in Bath but has New Zealand roots
  • Covered England's tour of New Zealand in 2014 and Australia in 2016
  • Was ESPN's man on the ground for the 2013 British & Irish Lions series and Rugby World Cup 2015

SYDNEY, Australia - World Cup-winning Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer says Australia have been hamstrung by absent personnel in the series against England but has backed the next generation of internationals to fill the void in the long-term.

The Wallabies head into Saturday's third Test in Sydney two-nil down in the series into England. It is a result that has stunned Australian rugby. Dwyer expected Australia to see off Eddie Jones' England on home soil but says their strength in depth has been found wanting.

Talking to ESPN, Dwyer said that the absence of the likes of Adam Ashley-Cooper and Matt Giteau should not be used as an excuse for the series defeat, adding that England have simply been the "better team".

England came to Australia as underdogs to take the series but the Wallabies failed to find the same ruthless form that saw them through to the final of last year's Rugby World Cup.

"Australia's team has changed markedly from the World Cup," Dwyer told ESPN. "They have as many as eight players missing from their best team in the World Cup.

"Kane Douglas has been out, then there's been Rob Simmons, who missed a Test, as did David Pocock. Matt Toomua didn't play in the first two while Kurtley Beale's missed the series as have Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell and Adam Ashley-Cooper. The same goes for Joe Tomane and Henry Speight.

"Sekope Kepu is only just back and Tatafu Polota-Nau is back after a while out. That's contributed to their defeat but before the series, we all thought Australia would be fine, we'd adjust to those things and the players coming in would compensate for those not there. In reality, that hasn't been the case at all."

Despite having that huge amount of experience unavailable, Dwyer sees hope for the future and says the emergence of some of the new capped players gives Australia reason to believe they will be back to their best by the turn of the year.

"Australia should be concerned about the result of the series, definitely," Dwyer said. "They should be concerned about the result of every game. But I think we have a lot of next-generation players who aren't far away and will start touring in a few months.

"Rory Arnold's one, Samu Kerevi and Luke Morahan are others. There are a few players who will become part of the next generation.

"We're not badly placed. We've lost quite a few players to Europe and we've managed to lure a couple back and a few more are still there but that has made a few holes in positions. But we're pretty well off and my take is that by the end of the year we'll be right."

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Dwyer: Wallabies have missed key players

Racing claim Top 14 title despite red card

9:31 PM GMT

Racing Metro shrugged off an 18th-minute red card to defeat Toulon in a momentous Top 14 final.

The Parisians lost scrum-half Maxime Machenaud before the first quarter was up at the Nou Camp, after the France international was sent off for a tip tackle on Matt Giteau.

Leigh Halfpenny nudged 2014 champions Toulon in front with two penalties before the huge frame of Georgia's Mamuka Gorgodze powered its way through the Racing line for the opening try.

The Racing fans inside the vast stadium -- home of Spanish football giants Barcelona -- would have been forgiven for feeling nervous.

However, with Machenaud gone, up stepped a fine reserve kicker in the form of World Cup-winning fly-half Dan Carter, who booted them back in touch before half-time.

With the score at 14-12 in Toulon's favour as the second-half got underway, a Xavier Chiocci yellow card for going offside at a maul threw their lead into disarray.

Carter was joined in the kicking duties by South Africa Johan Goosen and the two pair swung the game in Racing's favour despite the deficit in headcount terms, Goosen landing a couple of penalties before Carter added another.

Then came the try that put Racing in the driving seat. Veteran All Black Joe Rokocoko crossed just before the hour mark to send fans from the French capital into ecstasy.

Maxime Mermoz struck back with another Toulon try 10 minutes later, but the 14-man Racing held on before a late penalty allowed Carter to seal the deal and claim a title in his first season in France.

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Racing claim Top 14 title despite red card

Hartley: Back to square one for series finale

9:06 PM GMT

• 

  Tom Hamilton

  Close

  • Joined ESPN in 2011
  • Grew up in Bath but has New Zealand roots
  • Covered England's tour of New Zealand in 2014 and Australia in 2016
  • Was ESPN's man on the ground for the 2013 British & Irish Lions series and Rugby World Cup 2015

SYDNEY, Australia -- The message from the England camp this week has concerned the dangers of praise and how it can make players complacent, and Dylan Hartley is not taking anything for granted.

Despite having started all eight Tests under Eddie Jones as captain, Saturday's in Sydney being the ninth, Hartley never feels his place in the team is secure. Far from it.

"I'm only judged on this weekend and how the team performs and the result," Hartley said. "I know as well as anyone that rugby is week to week so that is how we are judged. I want to be remembered this week as a winner."

Hartley's rugby career has been a turbulent one. Moments of silverware-laden ecstasy are tapered by a lengthy rap sheet, a list of suspensions that saw him miss both the 2013 Lions tour and the 2007 and 2015 World Cups. But under Jones he seems to have developed a Zen-like calmness and focus which sees him bypass provocation for the sake of the bigger picture.

Talking about his own development and maturity as a captain doesn't sit well with Hartley so it's perhaps better through the eyes of James Haskell: "I'm just glad that in the early months when people are looking for excuses and reasons why they can say it was a bad idea, that he's come through and just shown that it doesn't matter what you've done and who you are, that having a bit of edge and a bit of personality and a bit of whatever it might be, right or wrong, good or bad, can lead a team.

"He's been great for us, he's been great for me. He's very clear in what he wants from me. He uses his leaders. He understands it's about senior leaders, not just about him, and he uses us very well. He's very clear, he's definitely the boss. And I really like that. That's what you want from a captain.

"You want someone to go to you and say the buck stops with you. He speaks well and plays with his heart on his sleeve."

Last week when Hartley became England's most-capped hooker, it was an event which passed him by with little recognition. The sole focus was on winning the series 3-0 and that team-first mentality is something he brings in when assessing his own spell as captain.

"Eddie and the coaches have high expectations and that filters down to myself, which filters to the senior players and filters to the group, so everyone has high expectations and standards," Hartley said. "I feel I have developed personally, yes, through the guidance of the coaches and Eddie, and the expectation."

The eight game unbeaten run, in Hartley's mind, counts for nothing. As England have said this week, Saturday's Test is their World Cup final.

"I don't know what Australia will do," Hartley said. "I know what we'll do though; we'll front up like we've done every week. We're going to be physical and we're going out to win the game.

"I can't imagine losing ... there is no other way. The team have to win this week. We are just as desperate to win the series and knock it off 3-0."

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Hartley: Back to square one for series finale

England star Cipriani guilty of drink-driving

9:40 AM GMT

England rugby star Danny Cipriani has been convicted of drink-driving after getting behind the wheel having spent the night drinking cocktails and champagne.

The fly-half, 28, was so drunk his eyes were "glazed", he slurred his words and could not stand straight after he crashed his black Mercedes into a taxi in London at 5.15am on June 1 last year.

The Wasps player, then with Sale Sharks, was breathalysed after the crash in Imperial Road, Fulham, and found to have 67 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath -- twice the drink-drive limit.

He was found guilty of drink-driving on Friday following a trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Cipriani was ordered to pay a total of £7,620 in fines and costs. He was also banned from driving for 18 months.

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England star Cipriani guilty of drink-driving

Toomua returns to boost Wallabies' midfield

11:48 PM GMT

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has opted for a second playmaker for the third Test against England with Matt Toomua named at inside centre.

He is joined in the run-on side for the Sydney finale by Waratahs lock Will Skelton, who will play his first Test since last year's Rugby World Cup.

The only other change from to the side that suffered a 23-7 loss in Melbourne last week also comes at lock where Rob Simmons returns; Sam Carter and Rory Arnold the two players dropping out.

"This Saturday's match against England is a real opportunity for the Wallabies to show the character I know they have on the field, for all our fans to see," Cheika said.

"We will continue to play Rugby in our attacking style and we'll be aiming to do it with more consistent quality than we have in the first two matches.

"Will Skelton and Matt Toomua are back to full fitness and have worked extremely hard for their opportunity this Saturday."

Meanwhile on the bench, Western Force lock Adam Coleman has been included alongside veteran back-rower Wycliff Palu and returned Waratahs winger Taqele Naiyaravoro.

Australia: Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Sean McMahon, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, James Slipper.

Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Scott Sio, Greg Holmes, Adam Coleman, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, Nick Frisby, Christian Leali'ifano, Taqele Naiyaravoro.

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Toomua returns to boost Wallabies' midfield

Highlanders' Dixon named for All Blacks debut

Rob Evans, Tomas Francis return for Wales

10:18 PM GMT

Rob Evans and Tomas Francis have been drafted into the Wales front row for their final shot at New Zealand in Dunedin on Saturday.

Both players move up off the replacements bench, with Evans taking over at loose head from the injured Gethin Jenkins and Francis swapping places with Samson Lee.

They are the only changes to the walk-on team that went down 36-22 to the world champions in Wellington last weekend. Jenkins, Wales' record cap holder, went home earlier in the week with a calf injury.

Joining him on the plane were Josh Turnbull and Bradley Davies. Davies' place among the replacements is taken by another Scarlets front five forward, Jake Ball, while Aaron Jarvis comes in to cover for Evans

Wales skipper Sam Warburton will become only the 10th player to play 50 Tests as an international captain (including two for the British & Irish Lions) when he leads his country for the 48th time.

"We have played some good rugby in the first two Tests and we want to finish the tour on Saturday with an 80-minute performance that we are happy with," said Wales coach Warren Gatland.

"We improved going into the second Test and fought to the end and this weekend we have to have the belief and confidence that we can take the victory.

"Playing under the roof in Dunedin will be a great atmosphere and a quick track and we need to take our game to the All Blacks."

Wales:

Rhys Patchell, Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Hallam Amos, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Ross Moriarty, Sam Warburton (captain), Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Aaron Jarvis, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Ellis Jenkins, Gareth Davies, Rhys Priestland, Scott Williams.

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Rob Evans, Tomas Francis return for Wales

Italy and Wasps star Masi retires from rugby

12:44 PM GMT

Italy international Andrea Masi has been forced to retire from professional rugby because of an injury suffered during last autumn's World Cup.

Masi's club Wasps and the Italian Rugby Federation announced that the 35-year-old had failed to recover from an Achilles tendon injury and had retired on medical advice.

The full-back or centre won 95 Test caps and was part of four World Cup campaigns. He also made 59 appearances in Wasps colours.

In a statement released by Wasps and the Italian Federation, Masi said: "Rugby has been at the core of my life for the past 20 years, and it's not easy to close such an important chapter of my life.

"I am conscious that I need to follow experts' medical advice, and that this is the only possible way. Despite the recovery process progressing positively in the early stages, it didn't heal as hoped, and it became clear I wouldn't be able to continue playing professional rugby.

"I am satisfied that I made every possible effort to come back from the injury, but sadly it wasn't to be. I gave a lot to the game I love, and the game gave a lot to me."

Wasps rugby director Dai Young paid tribute to Masi, adding: "It's hard to summarise the contribution Andrea has made to Wasps, because his impact has been tremendous in all areas of the club.

"His loyalty to stick with Wasps during the tough times -- when he received numerous offers to play elsewhere -- will never be forgotten.

"He is one of the most genuine and considerate characters you could wish to meet, and is someone who never shirks a challenge. "That is what makes his enforced retirement all the harder to bear, as he has worked his socks off and done everything humanly possible to come back from the Achilles injury."

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Italy and Wasps star Masi retires from rugby

McBryde: Injuries won't stop Wales push

11:44 AM GMT

Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde does not think the loss of two of his leading front five forwards will dent his side's chances of ending their tour of New Zealand on a high in Dunedin on Saturday.

Gethin Jenkins, who hoisted his Welsh cap record to 126 by starting in the first two tests, and Bradley Davies, the 56-time capped lock, both flew home this week after sustaining injuries in last weekend's 36-22 defeat in Wellington.

Joining them on the return flight was Cardiff Blues back row man Josh Turnbull, who aggravated a long-standing shoulder problem in the midweek defeat to the Chiefs.

Rob Evans is set to return to the loose head prop position vacated by Jenkins, while Jake Ball will take over as the second row replacement for Davies on the bench.

"We have got a fit and healthy squad, but we haven't got any room for any further injuries. We are pretty tight and the individuals who have been there or thereabouts throughout the tour are ready to step up," McBryde said.

"Gethin has been digging in, Bradley has been carrying his knee for a while and it is a similar situation with Josh with his shoulder. But now we are just excited to see how the other boys go.

"It is about building up for the last game, our last opportunity against the All Blacks. We have been exposed to them twice now and when you get that bit of familiarity it gives you greater confidence.

"We want to embrace this final test and give a good account of ourselves. It's important we finish this tour well.

"I'm sure the All Blacks will be looking to ramp it up against us. Our performance was excellent again in the first half last weekend in Wellington, but we know it is going to have to be better over the course of the whole game on Saturday."

Wales scored three tries against the world champions in Wellington in the second Test, only the third time in 111 years they had done so, and the 14-point losing margin was the best they have achieved in New Zealand.

And McBryde says the team will stick with their new high-tempo game plan that has managed to stretch Kieran Read's team on numerous occasions in the first two Tests.

"We've been pretty bold and the players have said they want to move on and evolve our game - it's good to see them embracing it. We are willing to change and to try different things," McBryde said.

"You saw that in the last game. Not everything came off, but we are trying and there has been quite a bit of evolution in our game. We are evolving, but not forgetting what has worked for us in the past. The fact we managed to finish strongly in the last Test was good and we now need to build in greater accuracy.

"There are certain aspects we have been disappointed with, but when you fear change too much you become paralysed. We are changing things because of what has happened in the past.

"Our target is to produce a game which will challenge them. Hopefully, we can tighten up the areas which have cost us and make this Saturday as entertaining as the first two Tests."

Wales are due to announce their team for the third Test at 7am local time on Thursday.

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McBryde: Injuries won't stop Wales push

Toner calls for one last effort from Ireland

2:47 PM GMT

Ireland second-row Devin Toner has called on his teammates to keep cool heads as they go in search of a historic series win over South Africa on Saturday.

Joe Schmidt's side have already secured one piece of history on their three-match end of season tour by beating the Springboks on home soil for the first time, but despite losing the second Test in dramatic circumstances last weekend, the Leinster lock is targeting a grand finale in Port Elizabeth.

Ireland trained at the Nelson Mandela Bay University on Tuesday morning and reported a clean bill of health for Saturday's game as CJ Stander returns to the squad.

It is Ireland's 17th Test of their 2015/16 campaign but Toner wants one last effort as they look to follow the British and Irish Lions and New Zealand by winning a three-Test series over the Springboks on South African soil.

"It's quite important to us," he said. "Going into that first game, it was quite important as well as we've never won in South Africa before so I think that was playing on our minds a bit and now, once we've got that win, I think we can push on to make a bit more history.

"So it is in the back of our heads but we're not going to be as emotional or as invested in that to the detriment of our game-plan or how we're going to play.

"As I said, it is going to be in the back of our heads but I think the main thing is to get the performance right."

As if to reinforce that point, Ireland have been reviewing their second-half performance in Saturday night's second Test when they allowed a 16-point lead slip to let South Africa level the series and wrest control of the momentum.

"We stood off them, we let them at us," Toner said of the final quarter in which the tide turned. "We fell off some tackles, so basically it comes down to physicality, getting the shoulder in and getting that first-up contact. Once you start falling off tackles and once you start to let them get over the gain-line, that's what happens.

"So, I don't know whether it was a lapse in concentration or lads were tired, but I think it was just that last 15/20 minutes kind of killed us.

"We're expecting South Africa to play as they played in that last quarter this weekend.

"I think they'll have a lot of confidence from those last 20 minutes.

"We can't let them do that again, we can't let them run at us, we can't let them get over the gain-line as easily as we did.

"So, we're going to have to take confidence from our performance in the first game and the first half, to know that we can do it, to know that we can negate their threats."

South Africa prop Trevor Nyakane is out of the series decider and he joins Lood de Jager, Pat Lambie and Duane Vermeulen on the sidelines for the final game. Warren Whiteley is in a race to be fit.

Despite their growing injury list, Ireland scrum coach Greg Feek believes the Boks are a growing threat as the series reaches its conclusion.

"South Africa played really well," the former All Black said. "They showed how dangerous they are as a team [in the last 20 minutes].

"We know we have to be better than that in that last quarter. They're a world class side, so there's a number of little things that we need to get right and I suppose looking after the ball is one thing and obviously there's a few other errors that were made.

"Some of the guys who came in were probably trying a bit too hard at times maybe, so I suppose that's the mental part of Test matches.

"We're a little bit disappointed from the weekend but we also know it's a tough ask to come over here and win one Test match so it's certainly our focus for this week."

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Toner calls for one last effort from Ireland

Cheika: Hansen knows better than 'shallow' bully dig

Jones gets help from NRL legend

Cheika has given Eddie 'free rein' in verbal stoush

Jones 'completely unavailable' for Lions duty

9:14 PM GMT

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  Tom HamiltonRugby Editor

  Close

  • Joined ESPN in 2011
  • Grew up in Bath but has New Zealand roots
  • Covered England for the past two seasons, including their tour to New Zealand
  • Was ESPN's man on the ground for the 2013 British & Irish Lions series

SYDNEY, Australia -- The Rugby Football Union and Eddie Jones have ruled out any chance of the England coach taking charge of the British & Irish Lions for next year's series in New Zealand.

Jones' odds of becoming the next Lions coach shortened after their series win in Australia but he has always said he has no interest in taking charge of the famous tourists in 2017 and is committed to England. This stance was reiterated in the wake of their 23-7 triumph in Melbourne, a victory that cemented England's first ever series win on Australian soil.

When asked whether he would be interested in the Lions, Jones said he is "completely unavailable". He added: "I signed a four-year contract to make England the best team in the world and I'm going to spend every minute I have doing that. If I took the Lions job, I'd have to spend anything from six to 12 months not doing that."

Jones' stance was echoed by RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie, who also sits on the Lions' board, who said: "Eddie does not want to do it."

"I cannot put it more categorically," Ritchie added. "It is a mutual thing. Both us of feel this way that between now and 2019, Eddie's focus is on the World Cup and nothing will change that."

Ritchie said this position will not change even if the sabbatical period the Lions coach is required to take is waived or reduced.

However, while Jones is out of the running, the RFU could release assistant coaches Paul Gustard or Steve Borthwick for Lions duty.

Ritchie says talk of them forming part of the backroom staff is "premature" but the RFU has form in this regard, having released then-England coaches Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree to the Lions in 2013.

"That would be a matter to discuss with Eddie," Ritchie said. "But we have not gone into that so it is certainly not as clear as the position with Eddie."

The selection panel that will decide the Lions coach will meet in early July with the hope of making an appointment by the end of the month and an announcement in early September. Wales coach Warren Gatland is the favourite but John Feehan, the Lions' chief executive, recently revealed the other home union coaches are in the mix.

"It's still open, wide open," Feehan said in Wellington last week. "The interviews are in early July, selection will be completed in July and we'd hope to announce in the second week of September.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be a national coach, but it's likely to be. [Ireland coach] Joe Schmidt has been very successful in South Africa and to be fair to Warren [Gatland], he had a very good 60 minutes against the All Blacks [in the first Test of Wales' June series]. I would say the honours are roughly even at this stage. It's pretty obvious which individuals we'll be going to."

Whoever takes charge of the Lions is likely to call on a number of England players if they continue this remarkable run of form. If they are picked, they would be ruled out of contention for England's tour of Argentina and Jones expects to be missing "at least 15" players when they journey to play the Pumas.

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Jones 'completely unavailable' for Lions duty

Growden: Wallabies masters of ruining big opportunity

Hooper calls on Wallabies to play 'smarter'

9:03 AM GMT

Australian rugby fans haven't seen the last of the Wallabies' attacking approach, but vice-captain Michael Hooper says his teammates have to play smarter if they are to persist with their ball-in-hand beliefs.

The Wallabies were soundly beaten 23-7 by England in Melbourne on Saturday night, despite playing with 71 and 74 percent of the possession and territory respectively.

England assistant coach Paul Gustard has since been lauded for his side's resolute defence, an attitude he helped galvanise ahead of kick-off via a 1930s poem.

Hooper also paid tribute to the England coaching setup -- as he did the players -- but said the focus was now on Australia to refine their attacking approach.

"We've got to be smarter," he said after arriving in Sydney on Sunday. "Teams are picking a way to play us, put us under pressure and get points that way. So we've got to be able to counter that and we haven't done that well in the first two games at all."

The Wallabies openside was the subject of controversy after footage appeared to show him throwing loose AAMI Park turf towards England at the scrum. However, a second camera angle cleared him of any wrongdoing, and Hooper said the squad were desperate to finish the series with a win.

"[It's] really tough, it hurts just as bad today and it's going to be a tough few days looking at the review," he said. "It can only go up at the moment. We're pretty low all of us which is a good sign, the fact it's really hurt us. We'll take a really tough look at ourselves, Cheik and the boys are going really pick apart our game and see where we can go on-field."

Meanwhile, Australian Rugby Union [ARU] chief executive Bill Pulver has issued one final insult to AAMI Park by threatening to take future Tests away from the venue unless the playing surface improves.

There were grave fears as to whether the turf would survive the scrum force generated at Test level and those fears were realised from the very first set-piece.

"We have expressed our extreme disappointment to the Melbourne and Olympic Trust [MOPT] following last night's Test at AAMI Park," Pulver said via an ARU media release. "The playing surface was clearly not up to the standards required for international rugby."

While not yet official, Pulver said the ARU had an agreement to play a Test at the venue in 2017. But a repeat of Saturday night will not be tolerated, giving AAMI Park 12 months to bring its turf up to scratch.

"AAMI Park must investigate all technology available to improve the surface. If we don't have satisfactory progress in the coming months, we'll need to revisit our agreement with them for 2017.

"We want to work with the venue to ensure the stadium is suitable to host rugby matches moving forward."

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Hooper calls on Wallabies to play 'smarter'

Cheika questions use of Television Match Official

Jones targeting clean sweep in Sydney

2:38 PM GMT

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  Tom HamiltonRugby Editor

  Close

  • Joined ESPN in 2011
  • Grew up in Bath but has New Zealand roots
  • Covered England for the past two seasons, including their tour to New Zealand
  • Was ESPN's man on the ground for the 2013 British & Irish Lions series

AAMI PARK, Melbourne -- Eddie Jones praised England's defensive effort in the wake of their series-clinching 23-7 win over Australia in Melbourne and is targeting the clean sweep with victory next week.

Just minutes after England had dispatched Australia for the second week running, Jones turned attention to the final Test in Sydney and the message on field at the end of the match in Melbourne was to complete the job in a week's time.

"We're very pleased with the victory," Jones said. "That was a real, tough Test match -- a proper Test match. We didn't have much possession so we had to defend a lot. Our defence was outstanding and has really done a terrific job this week in preparing the team.

"But we want to be the best team in the world. And we want to win the series 3-0. If the All Blacks were in this situation now, what would they be thinking?

"That doesn't mean we can't change the team, but they'd be thinking 3-0. They beat Wales and will now be thinking 3-0. If we want to be the best team in the world, we have to think 3-0. Australia will come back because they're a well-coached, driven team, so we're anticipating a feisty encounter in Sydney."

Jones says some of England's contingent were suffering with "bumps and bruises" after a fiercely physical Test in Melbourne where they were forced to defend for lengthy periods in the match. He was full of praise for the work Paul Gustard, defence coach, has done in that area and described their tactic in Melbourne as "rope-a-dope".

"That was the sort of game we had to play," Jones added. "We had to be tactically flexible in Test rugby and that's why I'm so pleased for the team. We got an opportunity to score a try and we took it. That's the sign of a good side."

The win had added significance for Chris Robshaw as it was his 50th cap. He was crowned Man of the Match for an all-court display and Jones praised his performance.

"He does all the unseen stuff in the game, makes good tackles, keeps driving forwards, cleans out," Jones said. "And that's what he's done for us, game after game for eight Tests in a row since he lost the captaincy.

"It was difficult when he lost the captaincy. It wasn't a pleasant experience, but he's bounced back really well and we're all delighted for him tonight."

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Jones targeting clean sweep in Sydney

Robshaw's redemption makes England soar

Australia 7-23 England: Player ratings

Cruden cleared of spinal injury

11:35 AM GMT

All Blacks playmaker Aaron Cruden has been cleared of serious injury following a frightening moment in the second Test win over Wales.

Five-eighth Cruden's neck made a cracking noise when he fell awkwardly in a tackle from lock Luke Charteris in the 32nd minute of Saturday's Test, won 36-22 by New Zealand.

There were fears he might have suffered serious spinal damage when it took medical staff more than 10 minutes to lift the 27-year-old onto a stretcher.

He was taken to hospital where scans delivered a positive prognosis, coach Steve Hansen said.

"There was a bit of a crack but, by all accounts, there was nothing that was damaged from a broken point of view," Hansen said.

"They're doing a few other precautionary things at the moment but the word is he's pretty good."

It is unclear if Cruden, who missed most of the 2015 season with a serious knee injury, will be available for next week's third Test in Dunedin.

Centre Malakai Fekitoa is also under an injury cloud on two counts.

He suffered a deep facial cut in the first collision of the game - a heavy meeting of heads with midfielder Jamie Roberts - and missed 15 minutes while he was assessed and stitched up.

He didn't return in the second spell because of a leg injury, handing extended minutes to outside back reserve Seta Tamanivalu in his second Test.

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Cruden cleared of spinal injury

Saxons survive to seal South Africa series

8:21 PM GMT

England Saxons staged a superb second-half recovery to beat South Africa A 29-26 and seal a 2-0 series triumph.

The Saxons won the first meeting 32-24 in Bloemfontein but looked set for defeat in George after South Africa stormed into a 26-8 lead following converted tries by Sergeal Petersen and Francois Venter just after half-time.

However, the Saxons hit back almost immediately through hooker Tommy Taylor -- his second try of the match -- before flanker Matt Kvesic went over in the 55th minute. Danny Cipriani added the extras on both occasions as South Africa's lead was slashed to 26-22.

That is the way the scoreline stayed until five minutes from the end when wing Christian Wade, who was drafted into the starting line-up in place of the injured Alex Lewington, capitalised on good work from the Saxons forwards to dive over.

Cipriani again slotted the conversion, taking his points haul to nine, and South Africa could find no late response at Outeniqua Park to leave the tourists celebrating a series win.

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Saxons survive to seal South Africa series

Wood named new Northampton captain

Jun 16, 2016

Flanker Tom Wood has been named Northampton captain for the new season.

The 42-cap back-rower takes the armband from scrum-half Lee Dickson, while current England captain Dylan Hartley remains among Saints' ranks.

Wood captained Northampton in Saints' victorious 2014 Aviva Premiership and Challenge Cup finals, and now assumes the role full-time.

"Tom has long been part of a strong group of leaders at the club and we believe he has all the credentials to be an outstanding captain for Northampton Saints," said rugby director Jim Mallinder of Wood, who captained England in Argentina in 2011.

"We've seen in the past that he always leads by example, both on the field with his unbelievable work rate and passion, as well as off it with his wholehearted approach to everything he does.

"His past experiences in the role for both club and country made him the overwhelming choice.

"He takes over from Lee (Dickson), who put his all into the role last season and will continue to play a big part on the field and in the leadership group we've already mentioned."

Northampton finished fifth and missed the Premiership playoffs last term, leading boss Mallinder to tweak his resources.

Wood played a central role for England under Stuart Lancaster, but has been considered surplus to requirements since by new boss Eddie Jones.

"I'm hugely honoured and privileged to be in a position to be able to accept the role," said Wood.

"I'm really looking forward to an exciting new challenge leading a club with such a proud history and great players and captains who have gone before me.

"I want to thank Lee (Dickson) for his contributions last year and also for the dignity and grace with which he handed me the reins. To have his support means the world to me and I'll be relying a huge amount on the guys around me to help make this club what it can be."

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Wallabies to attend England's ref meeting

10:41 AM GMT

Australia will take the unprecedented step of attending England's meeting with referee Craig Joubert as tensions mount ahead of Saturday's second Test at AAMI Park.

Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika plans to take advantage of World Rugby regulations that state a team are allowed to be present at the opposition's eve-of-match briefing with the official.

Offering a layer of intrigue to a game Australia must win if they are to prevent England seizing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, Cheika will join Friday's discussion between rival Eddie Jones and Joubert.

The meeting is an opportunity for a coach to seek clarity on issues surrounding the match and express any concerns, and to date the option of attending has always been declined by opponents.

The scrum is shaping up to be a key battleground after the tourists gained a crucial foothold in the set-piece in their 39-28 victory at Suncorp Stadium, to the extent that Australia have dropped props Scott Sio and Greg Holmes and second row Rob Simmons for the second Test.

Adding to the pressure on Joubert, who was also the focal point of a scrum dispute between England and Wales in this year's RBS 6 Nations, is the claim by former Wallabies head coach Bob Dwyer that the technique of prop Dan Cole is illegal.

Cheika said: "There's a meeting with the referee for both teams, together. The English guys wanted to see the ref. As normal, as per the rules, we're invited along so we'll go along and have a listen.

"We didn't ask the referee for the meeting. The rules say that if you ask for a meeting, the other team is invited if they want to take up that opportunity. We figured we would. We didn't know about last week, so we figured we will this week."

England forwards coach Steve Borthwick insists the Grand Slam champions have no issues if Australia are present, but stressed that it was uncommon for opponents to be involved.

"If that's what the regulations say, then it's no problem. I'm my experience it hasn't happened before," Borthwick said.

"It's a question for them though, if they want to come along then that's fine. Meeting the ref is standard practice -- before the game each week.

"Craig Joubert is one of the world's best refs and we have every confidence he will ref the game and scrum well."

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Wallabies to attend England's ref meeting

Cheika at ease with pressure despite referee revelation

Scotland make five changes for Japan

7:10 AM GMT

Scotland have made five changes from the team which finished off their RBS 6 Nations campaign for the match against Japan on Saturday.

All but one are injury-related with four players unavailable and Jonny Gray returning to the side at lock after missing the last Six Nations match against Ireland in Dublin.

There is one big surprise with Damien Hoyland, the Edinburgh wing, winning the race to take over from Tim Visser, who had dropped out with a hamstring problem. It will be only his second cap and first start.

"I just saw my name up on the screen, just paused, looked for a bit and thought quickly about when I first started playing rugby and my ambitions to represent Scotland," Hoyland said.

"Now it is actually happening - I am getting my first start and I can't believe it. It is very, very surreal. It will definitely be emotional. I don't like to cry, so I will be holding it in, I imagine. I have to keep my head down, try not to get caught up in it too much and just focus on the game."

Fly-half Duncan Weir, who started in Ireland, was not included in the tour squad and Finn Russell suffered a bad facial wound playing for Glasgow in the Guinness PRO12 semifinal against Connacht, so Ruaridh Jackson will start against Japan.

Vern Cotter said: "I thought 'Jacko' did some good things during the Six Nations and deserved an opportunity to turn out at 10.

"Damien Hoyland also gets a run on the wing. It is exciting to see talent come through the ranks and push for a place in the starting team.

"He was with us pre-World Cup and trained well. He kicked on from there, credit to him. He could have sat back and been disappointed but he did the right thing, worked hard and improved his game.

"He is with us now and it's a great opportunity for him. He has a lot to work on but he has good feet and does score tries, he is a good attacking player as we have seen through sevens. He will provide line breaks and give us go-forward."

Matt Scott comes in for Alex Dunbar at centre while hooker Ross Ford has a tight calf muscle and drops out with Stuart McInally coming in as his replacement.

Cotter is full of respect for the pace and style Japan bring to the game.

"They have shown they have depth in their squad. They have had a number of injuries but with a number of changes managed to beat Canada in Canada. They are a team that plays with confidence," he said.

"They have a certain way of playing that is effective. Once they get over the gain line they take the ball close to the advantage line, work both sides of the rucks and can move the ball out wide. They are hard to get the ball off because they are very quick to breakdowns - they are a fast, mobile team, we know that."

The match at Toyota City will kick off at 11:20 BST on Saturday.

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Scotland make five changes for Japan

Revamp or perish: Cheika had no choice

All Blacks dump Savea as Dagg returns

Cheika names side for second England Test

Wallabies' flanker Sean McMahon will face possibly the biggest test of his rugby career against England 

9:12 AM GMT

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has given his forward pack an almighty shake-up, dropping Scott Sio from his squad altogether and making three other changes for Saturday's crucial second Test against England.

Cheika has also decided not to replace injured star David Pocock (fractured eye socket) with a traditional No.8, instead handing Melbourne Rebels flanker Sean McMahon a start in what shapes as the biggest challenge of his burgeoning international career.

The backline from last week's 39-28 defeat to England has been kept entirely intact, with Israel Folau still at fullback and Samu Kerevi at No.12 after an impressive debut.

But Cheika has swapped both of his props, sensationally axing Sio - one of Australia's stars at last year's World Cup - in the process and bringing in James Slipper and Sekope Kepu into the starting side.

"Based on last weekend's performance, we decided that we wanted some new combinations for Saturday's game," Cheika said.

"Sean never takes a backwards step while James and Sekope add plenty of Test match experience."

Loosehead Slipper will now go head-to-head with England's Dan Cole, who has been in the gun of former Wallaby identities Bob Dwyer and Phil Kearns this week for alleged illegal scrum tactics.

Regardless of the 'angling in' debate, Cole certainly had the better of Sio, who was yellow carded in the second half of the Brisbane Test for repeated infringements - but to remove him from the matchday squad is a surprising decision from Cheika.

Kepu's promotion means Greg Holmes is on an extended bench alongside Rebels prop Toby Smith, who is capped three times at Test level.

Experienced lock Rob Simmons (lower back) has been ruled out through injury with Sam Carter to join Brumbies teammate Rory Arnold in the second row as expected, ensuring the Wallabies have some sort of continuity at the line-out.

Five-Test fetcher McMahon, meanwhile, has never played at No.8 before - for his province or his country - and is a whopping 26kg lighter than his English counterpart Billy Vunipola.

But Cheika clearly believes his manic workrate makes him a better starting option than Ben McCalman or Wycliff Palu, both of whom are listed among the reserves.

Cheika will narrow down his bench on Friday with Palu, Liam Gill and James Horwill most in danger of dropping out, while Western Force utility Luke Morahan could be in line for his first Test since his debut against Scotland in 2012.

"Obviously with his (Morahan's) selection, we're looking at a five-three split on the bench as opposed to the six forwards we had last weekend," Cheika said.

Australia must win at AAMI Park to keep the three-Test Cook Cup series alive.

Wallabies: Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Tevita Kuridrani, Samu Kerevi, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Sean McMahon, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (c), James Slipper. Reserves (three to be omitted on Friday): Tatafu Polota-Nau, Toby Smith, Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, James Horwill, Ben McCalman, Liam Gill, Wycliff Palu, Nick Frisby, Christian Lealiifano, Luke Morahan.

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Cheika names side for second England Test

Wallabies prepared for shifting pitch

10:20 PM GMT

Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau admits AAMI Park's unstable surface is a worry, but one that both sides will simply have to come to terms with in Saturday's crucial second Test.

Australia needs to beat England to square up the series and keep alive their chances of obtaining the Cook Cup, which the tourists have held for the last three years.

But there are serious concerns over player safety because of the turf at the Melbourne venue, which has consistently given way under scrums at Super Rugby level for many weeks.

AAMI Park officials insist the surface will hold up on Saturday, but there is only so much work groundskeepers can do it salvage it and Polota-Nau says the Wallabies are preparing for the worst.

"The ground's the ground. We've got to make best use of it," he said.

"I think we just have to make sure we adapt to the situation quicker than England do.

"We're not too worried about the ground, we're just worried about keeping ball in hand.

"Obviously if we can't get traction in the scrums that will be another issue but I'm sure come Saturday we'll be more than prepared for it."

The scrum battle is already in focus after England prop Dan Cole was criticised by former Wallaby Phil Kearns for deliberately and illegally angling in during the first Test, leading to the second-half yellow carding of his opposite number Scott Sio.

Top South African referee Craig Joubert will control Saturday's match and is already under pressure to ensure no team gets an unfair advantage come scrum time.

Polota-Nau said Australian scrum coach Mario Ledesma had offered positive feedback to the forwards after the series opener.

"Mario's assessment was that we need to be great. We were (just) good, especially when they were a bit rattled in terms of set-up and getting a penalty straight away," he said.

"At the end of the day it's moreso having a perfect platform for us.

"We're always aiming for perfect. We can only get as close to as perfect.

"It's just (about) making sure we don't even include the referee in the situation."

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Wallabies prepared for shifting pitch

Ireland won't appeal Stander ban

Chiefs thump profligate Wales

Super Rugby outfit the Chiefs run away with their match against the touring Wales side 

9:41 AM GMT

The Chiefs produced a huge defensive effort on Tuesday night on the way to handing Wales a 40-7 rugby thumping in Hamilton.

The home side had limited attacking opportunities, but still conjured up six tries to one.

Former All Black five-eighth Stephen Donald created one try, almost scored another and landed all four of his conversion attempts before going off late to a big ovation.

The Chiefs had 20 players unavailable because of injury or international duty, including eight away with the All Blacks.

Donald, handed the captaincy in the absence of regular co-skippers Sam Cane and Aaron Cruden, who are with the Test squad, was delighted with his side's performance.

"I'm so proud of the boys," he said.

"It wasn't pretty and we had to defend for probably 80 per cent of the game, but this group of battlers did well tonight."

Donald said there was plenty of excitement beforehand about the chance to play a touring side.

"There are a lot of guys who haven't had much opportunities," he said.

"The Welsh are a good team, but we just thought, hell, we're going to rip into them and, hopefully, it was going to be enough and, in the end, it was."

Lock Luke Charteris, Wales' captain for the match, said the Chiefs won the battle of the gain line and the breakdown.

"We let ourselves down; we didn't match them," he said.

"They gave us a lesson there and we have to look at ourselves. It's just not acceptable to lose by that sort of margin."

Wales had 10 players backing up from their first Test defeat to the All Blacks, including skipper Sam Warburton.

The openside flanker wasn't originally selected, but started after Ellis Jenkins withdrew with a thigh strain.

Wales had the lion's share of possession and territory, and constantly turned down penalty shots at goal, but they struggled to find the cutting edge against a resilient defence.

They were behind in the seventh minute after Donald made a half break that set up halfback Brad Weber for a try.

Against the run of the play, the home side went further ahead on the half-hour when No.8 Tom Sanders finished off a 17-phase attack.

Donald, after another galloping run, was then denied a try after the officials ruled he was held up.

But from the subsequent scrum, lock Dominic Bird went over and Donald added the extras for a 21-0 halftime scoreline.

Wales finally managed to get on the board in the 56th minute as they drove replacement hooker Kristian Dacey over from a lineout.

But the Chiefs finished with a flourish via further tries to fullback James Lowe, winger Toni Pulu and replacement back Sam McNicol.

Wales have four days to recover before Saturday's second Test in Wellington.

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Chiefs thump profligate Wales

Test intensity caught Kaino by surprise

World Rugby to review Test eligibility protocols

6:09 AM GMT

World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot is to look into the sport's international eligibility rules as part of a wide-ranging report into the sustainability of the game in the Pacific Islands.

The former Argentina international came out strongly against the existing rules, which allow a player to represent a country if they have lived there for three years, when he was nominated to his post last month.

Admitting his views would be controversial, the 41-year-old former Pumas captain and rugby Hall of Famer said he thought the period was too short.

"There are special cases where players moved when they were ten or twelve years old," he said.

"But just moving to a country, being taken from an Academy, like they are doing in Tonga, and put into play, say, in an Ireland shirt, I'm against it. I think it is not right."

Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have suffered from talent drain for many years and most of the top tier northern hemisphere nations as well as Australia and New Zealand regularly field players born in the Islands.

Pichot was part of a World Rugby committee that met with the Fiji, Samoa and Tonga unions in Fiji on Tuesday and has been asked to lead a working party to make recommendations to the governing body in October.

The group will also look at future high performance investment levels, the conduct of agents, player movement regulations, future competition pathways, player release regulations and the conduct of non-union rugby academies.

World Rugby also reaffirmed its commitment to Pacific Islands rugby and said it would be supporting the high performance and development programs of the three unions to tune of [STG]4 million ($Aus 7.7 million) in 2016.

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World Rugby to review Test eligibility protocols

Pick'n Go: Wallabies need some niggle in Melbourne

Stander banned for second Test vs. South Africa

7:25 PM GMT

CJ Stander will miss Ireland's second Test against South Africa after he was handed a one-game ban for the red card he was shown in Saturday's first Test.

Disciplinary officer Terry Willis chose to suspend the Munster flanker after a two-day hearing, reducing his two-week ban to one on account of his prior record.

Stander was dismissed following a collision with Springbok out-half Pat Lambie, who had to leave the field with concussion.

Lambie is also out of the Ellis Park clash as a result of his injuries and faces a race to be fit in time for a potential series decider in Port Elizabeth on Saturday week. Stander will be available for that final game.

Ireland will consider the written judgement before deciding whether to appeal the ruling. They have 48 hours to make that call, but coach Joe Schmidt will not call up a replacement.

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Stander banned for second Test vs. South Africa

South Africa call up Steyn to face Ireland

6:07 PM GMT

South Africa have called Stade Francais fly-half Morne Steyn into their squad ahead of Saturday's second Test against Ireland.

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee is expecting his team to bounce back from their shock 26-20 defeat to 14-man Ireland at Ellis Park in Johannesburg at the weekend.

The former Stormers supremo believes his side's inaccuracy cost them the game against the touring side who lost CJ Stander to a red card after 22 minutes at Newlands.

He said his players were "embarrassed" by parts of the video review of the first Test and promised his side will tighten up their game-plan when the sides meet again on Saturday.

"What you shouldn't be sucked into is the complete Super Rugby vibe, where it's almost like a feel-good scenario where we keep ball in hand and run it from everywhere," he said at a press conference on Monday.

"Sometimes it looks on, but it isn't and you get shut down in your own half or you turn your own ball over in your own half.

"Test rugby is a little bit different, the players have a full understanding now about what Test rugby is about.

"All credit to the Irish, they really scrambled and they worked exceptionally hard when they were one guy short. But still, we allowed it to look really good.

"We need to really work on our execution, the big positive for me was the amount of opportunities we created.

"When we do the review today, the players will be in a way embarrassed to see that that's what happened and that we couldn't convert.

"Our conversion rate in the Irish 22 was really terrible. It's not to the standard of the Springboks and we know that, but it's something that we really can get right."

Duane Vermeulen and Lood de Jager sat out training on Monday afternoon, but both are expected to be available on Saturday.

While he praised Ireland's effort, Coetzee was less than impressed with Joe Schmidt's game-plan.

"In Super Rugby we really talk about a ball in hand approach and use it, but there are times when we have to kick it and that balance is the key," he said.

"There's a place for the kicking game and if you look at how the Irish put us under pressure, actually we did dominate territory but by a small margin.

"But they weren't interested in playing. All they did was make it as difficult as possible for us to exit, just put it in behind us, turn us and we were actually bogged down in our own 22 there.

"They got a drop goal and a chip try and it was a very clever tactic and I don't think we handled it well but I think we will be better this week."

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South Africa call up Steyn to face Ireland

England preparing for Pocock - Jones

David Pocock has been ruled out of the rest of the Test series by the Australian Rugby Union due to a fractured eye socket. 

10:39 AM GMT

• 

  Tom HamiltonRugby Editor

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  • Joined ESPN in 2011
  • Grew up in Bath but has New Zealand roots
  • Covered England for the past two seasons, including their tour to New Zealand
  • Was ESPN's man on the ground for the 2013 British & Irish Lions series

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Eddie Jones is preparing England to face an Australia side featuring David Pocock on Saturday despite the Wallabies saying he faces a layoff of between four and six weeks.

Pocock picked up a fractured eye socket in their defeat in Brisbane and a statement from the Australian Rugby Union said he had been "ruled out of the England Test series" but Jones is wary of this being a smokescreen from the Wallabies.

"Pocock is certainly a good player and we wish him all the best and a speedy recovery," Jones said on Monday. "I just hope he doesn't recover in time for Saturday and you never know."

He added: "I don't know if he is going to be in or out. We will prepare as though he is going to play."

While England are preparing for the threat of Pocock, they are not concerned over Dan Cole's scrummaging after he was accused of an illegal technique by Rugby World Cup-winning former Wallabies hooker Phil Kearns after Saturday's opening Test.

"It will be interesting if the referees -- I'm not sure if they go back and watch 'Spider-cam' at all, but Dan Cole was angling right in the whole time," Kearns said. "It's pretty obvious to see.

"Yeah, Scotty Sio didn't have his best scrummaging performance and Cole was dominant but referees, take a good, long, hard look at yourself."

Jones, however, was unperturbed by Kearns' sentiments and played down any significance over his interpretation putting it down to mind games.

"Phil is part of an organised campaign and he is playing his role," Jones said. "And he is playing a very good role.

"We are lucky we have got a fantastic referee at the weekend. Craig Joubert has refereed at least one World Cup final and is one of the most respected referees in the world. I am sure he will be able to referee the scrums well. But I am sure he will appreciate the advice Phil has given him. I am sure he will.

"Every couple of days someone comes up with something. I have been part of it, I know how it works. So let's not beat around the bush, we know how it works here and everyone is entitled to their opinion."

And Jones feels Australia will be focused on improving their lineout ahead of the second Test. Jones added: "In the last couple of Tests their lineout has really been under pressure. I'm sure Stephen Moore, a seasoned international with 100 Tests, will be worried about that area of their game."

Jones also confirmed that all 32 players in the squad are available for the weekend, saying: "Everyone is fit and ready to go. We've even got fitter journalists here."

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England preparing for Pocock - Jones