Saturday 30 November 2013

Rugby union roundup: Barbarians blitz Fiji, Saracens stay top

Bismarck Du Plessis led a bullish Barbarians blitz with two first-half tries to subdue Fiji 43-19 at Twickenham.


The Fijians were forced to celebrate their centenary without a host of top players from French and British clubs, and the Barbarians racked up seven tries in a one-sided autumn international encounter. Fiji claimed a first-half score from the outside-centre Asaeli Tikoirotuma but could never match the invitational team’s power.


George Kruis crashed over to score the match-winning try for Saracens as the Aviva Premiership leaders left it late to beat Sale. Saracens had to battle for the 24-19 victory, lit up by a virtuoso performance from Danny Cipriani.


Northampton kept the pressure on Saracens at the top with victory at Worcester – still without a win in their nine league matches. The lock Samu Manoa, the wing Tom Collins and the back-row Tom Wood made Northampton’s 33-10 win look more comfortable than it was as fly-half Stephen Myler kicked four penalties and all three conversions.


London Irish could not mark Topsy Ojo’s 200th appearance for the club with victory as they fell to a 19-12 defeat to Wasps at the Madejski Stadium. Andy Goode finished the match with 14 points to end a three-match losing streak for Wasps and condemn the Exiles to their sixth straight loss.



Rugby union roundup: Barbarians blitz Fiji, Saracens stay top

Iain Morrison: Size of players is wrecking rugby

Thursday
5 Dec


Heavy sleet showers


Temp


High
7°c


Low
0°c


Wind


From
West


Speed
23 mph



Iain Morrison: Size of players is wrecking rugby

Australia thrash NZ to win World Cup

Australia produced a clinical performance as they thrashed holders New Zealand to win the World Cup at a sold-out Old Trafford.


It was a near-faultless display from the Kangaroos, who scored five unanswered tries and have now won the trophy 10 times.


Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk touched down and Johnathan Thurston kicked two penalties as the Kangaroos built a 16-2 lead at the break.


Slater scored seconds after the restart and Brett Morris twice as Australia hammered their opponents.


Analysis







Australia did the simple things and I thought their kicking game was immense. They got away from their line easily and when the chances came, they took them. They were fantastic and I haven’t seen such a one-sided display for a long, long time. Thoroughly deserved for Australia.



The Kiwis might have produced the tournament’s most dramatic moment when they snatched a


last-minute victory over England


at Wembley last weekend, but they were a poor second against the Kangaroos in Manchester.


All they had to show for their efforts was Shaun Johnson’s early penalty that briefly levelled the scores at 2-2 but the two sides were anything but equal on the day.


The crowd of 74,468 was a record for an international fixture and most seemed to be backing New Zealand, but they had little choice except to admire the breathtaking play of the Kangaroos.


Australia built pressure from the start and never looked in any trouble as a brilliant kicking display and some superb attacking invention enabled them to


avenge their defeat


in the 2008 final in Brisbane.


The Kangaroos held the World Cup from 1975 until they lost it five years ago but they have been peerless in 2013.


They scored more tries (48) than any other team at the tournament, had the joint-top try-scorer in Jarryd Hayne and Brett Morris (nine) and did not concede a try after their


opening match against England.


Australia made their intentions clear from the very start at Old Trafford, as they tore into the Kiwis with a series of brutal tackles.


Their physicality up front was complemented by a ruthless kicking game, perfectly illustrated by an inch-perfect grubber from skipper Cameron Smith that forced a goal-line drop-out.


Awesome Australia



Australia



Australia have won the World Cup on a record 10 occasions, ahead of Great Britain (three) and New Zealand (one).



  • 1957:


    Won by topping a four-team group played in Sydney and Brisbane

  • 1968:


    Beat France 20-2 in Sydney

  • 1970:


    Beat Great Britain 12-7 in Leeds

  • 1975:


    Beat England 25-0 in Leeds

  • 1977:


    Beat Great Britain 13-12 in Sydney

  • 1988:


    Beat New Zealand 25-12 in Auckland

  • 1992:


    Beat Great Britain 10-6 in London (pictured above)

  • 1995:


    Beat England 16-8 in London

  • 2000:


    Beat New Zealand 40-12 in Manchester

  • 2013:


    Beat New Zealand 34-2 in Manchester



They soon had the lead through a Thurston penalty before Johnson levelled after a high tackle by Smith.


The reply did not signify any lasting resistance however, as Australia continued to play with a relentless precision.


Slater, restored at full-back after recovering from the knee injury he sustained in the quarter-final win over the USA, brilliantly caught a high cross-field kick from Thurston before touching down.


Australia almost extended their advantage when Hayne kicked for Cronk to touch down after Kiwi winger Manu Vatuvei, another player back after injury, spilled a high ball.


However, after a lengthy referral, video referee Ashley Klein ruled that Cronk had been held up by a brilliant last-ditch tackle from hooker Isaac Luke.


Cronk was not to be denied, though, and scored minutes later when he latched on to a kick from Darius Boyd after the Kangaroos had sliced open their opponents down the left side.


Thurston, who surpassed countryman Mick Cronin’s record of 309 points in internationals during the final, converted that try and added another penalty as the Aussies built a 16-2 lead at the break.


A try in the first minute after the restart, which involved Smith, Thurston and Boyd before Slater, a losing finalist in 2008, touched down, took the result beyond doubt.


More brilliant kicking from Morris and Hayne allowed the former to slide over and score as the scoreline started to take on an embarrassing appearance for the defending champions.




Man of the match Billy Slater


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Slater dedicates final tries to kids




It would have got even worse had the otherwise impeccable Thurston not knocked on after a stray Sonny Bill Williams pass gifted possession to the Kangaroos.


But Australia did score their fifth try after another pass from Williams was intercepted by Hayne, who tore downfield before passing for Morris to score again.


Man of the match Thurston converted to take his tally to seven from seven in the game as Australia closed out for a famous victory.


New Zealand:


Locke, Tuivasa-Sheck, Whare, Goodwin, Vatuvei, Foran, Johnson, Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke, Bromwich, Mannering, Williams, Taylor.
Replacements:


Nuuausala, Kasiano, Matulino, Glenn.


Australia:


Slater, B. Morris, Inglis, Hayne, Boyd, Thurston, Cronk, Scott, Smith, Tamou, Bird, Thaiday, Gallen.
Replacements:


Cherry-Evans, Papalii, Fifita, Parker.


Referee:


Richard Silverwood (England)


For a gallery of images from the Rugby League World Cup final at Old Trafford,


go to the BBC Sport Facebook page. 



Australia thrash NZ to win World Cup

Wales v Australia - as it happened

Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nick Cummins, two of the six players dropped for the win over Scotland after a late night at a Dublin nightclub the previous week, are recalled by coach Ewen McKenzie.


The partnership between Will Genia and Quade Cooper at nine and 10 is in place with Christian Leali’ifano at inside centre.


Australia: Israel Folau; Joe Tomane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali’lifano, Nick Cummins; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen (capt).


Replacements: Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Nic White, Mike Harris, Bernard Foley



Wales v Australia - as it happened

Rugby Union: Owen Farrell defends England style



“We must build on what we have already and move on. If you stand still in this sport you are really ­taking a step ­backwards”


Owen Farrell



The Saracens star said: “We have ­skilful and talented backs.


“They can create and scores tries at the ­highest level. I think the team has proved that in recent times.


“People will have their own views on what the make-up of the team should be and how things should work – and you cannot stop that.


“But we players were pleased with the way things went in the three Tests, even though it would have been a perfect few weeks if we could have won the lot.


“We must build on what we have already and move on. If you stand still in this sport you are really ­taking a step ­backwards.


“So you have to keep ­improving all the time.


“All the guys were gutted in the dressing room after losing to the All Blacks.


“We had put so much into it but still lost.


“We are going in the right ­direction and we know we will get where we want to be eventually.


“Now we have to perform for our clubs before coming back and ­having a big Six Nations.


“There’s two huge years ahead of us now before the World Cup and the competition is getting hotter and hotter for places.”



Rugby Union: Owen Farrell defends England style

The Shape I"m In: Alan Quinlan, ex-Munster and Ireland rugby player

The Shape I’m In: Alan Quinlan, ex-Munster and Ireland rugby player



EX-MUNSTER and Ireland rugby player Alan Quinlan has a whole new appreciation for the work of sports journalists since he retired in 2011.


Now a rugby analyst, working on TV and radio and writing a column, he is hugely enjoying his new trade, though he admits it has been a steep learning curve.



“It was a tough transition,” he says. “I was a player for 14 to 15 years — it’s a big change when you come out of the game. But I am enjoying it — it keeps me connected to the game. I don’t feel like it’s work.”



The downside is the erratic schedule.



“That’s one of the challenges — trying to manage my schedule, know where I’m going, waiting for phone calls and emails. But I feel like I’m doing an apprenticeship and I’m learning all the time.”



Quinlan, 39, has spoken openly in the past about his anxiety-related depression and is an ambassador for Lean On Me, a mental health campaign. Over the years he has learned to manage his anxiety.



“How you look after yourself is very important. Also to be able to seek help and put a plan in place,” he says.



Separated from his wife, model Ruth Griffin, their son AJ, was born in 2009. And in what seems to be a case of like father, like son, AJ is already showing a strong interest in sport.



“He loves playing football and rugby and kicking the ball, he loves being involved jumping around the place,” says the Tipperary man.

* Alan Quinlan is an ambassador for DeCare Dental Insurance Ireland. For details see www.decaredental.ie or call 1890 -130 017 



What shape are you in?

I’d like to think I’m OK. I like to do some running and swimming and do some weights in the gym — I try to go a couple of times a week. I still have aches and pains from the rugby, going to the gym helps me manage that. I try to stay pretty fit.



Do you have any health concerns? 

Not really. My elbows give me trouble. I dislocated both of them. I’m at the age where I’m concerned about my health. I would go to the doctor if I wasn’t feeling well. My mental health is something I am aware of too — it’s very important to look after that.



What are your healthiest eating habits?

I try to eat a low-fat, high-protein, high-carb diet. So I try to keep saturated fats — deep fried foods — out of the diet as much as I can.



What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

To go to the cinema and have chocolate and popcorn. Also a bag of chips would be a real treat. And I like biscuits with a cup of tea. I have a sweet tooth so I have to be careful — I got into good habits throughout my career.



What would keep you awake at night? 

The erratic schedule I have. If I’ve a busy couple of days coming up it would be on my mind a bit. If I’m relaxed going to bed, if I’ve things in order and I’m organised I’m fine. If I’m not organised I tend to over-think things.



Who would you like to invite to your dream dinner party?

Barack Obama, Steven Gerrard — I’m a Liverpool fan — Roy Keane and Ronan O’Gara and Pat Shortt.



What is your favourite smell? 

Lavender comes to mind.



What would you like to change about your appearance?

My cauliflower ears and I’d like to change a few wrinkles.



When is the last time you cried?

When my little boy AJ started school in September.



What is the trait you least like in others?

Bad manners — it really irritates me. I like being nice and polite to people.



What trait do you least like in yourself? 

I am a bit indecisive at times.


Do you pray?

I normally try and pray. If I don’t fall asleep, I might often say a prayer. I don’t go to church regularly.



What would cheer up your day? 

Seeing my son — and knowing that everything is OK with my family.


© Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved








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The Shape I"m In: Alan Quinlan, ex-Munster and Ireland rugby player

Rugby - Du Plessis stars for Baa Baas in win over Fiji

The Barbarians racked up seven tries in a one-sided autumn international encounter in London.


The South African hooker had one score chalked off, ruled held up over the line.


But the Barbarians front-rower quickly finished a potent rolling maul to claim his second score, after an earlier tight finish.


Back-rower Duane Vermeulen then scooped a loose ball after a Fiji knock on to score


Fiji claimed a first-half score from outside centre Asaeli Tikoirotuma but could never match the invitational team’s power and pace.


The Fijians were forced to celebrate their centenary without a host of top players from French and British clubs, and that left the Pacific Islanders frustratingly undercooked.


The Barbarians, coached by All Blacks boss Steve Hansen, led 17-7 at the interval, and quickly improved their advantage after the restart.


New Zealand wing Charles Piutau produced a smart sidestep to race in, with captain Jean de Villiers following suit shortly afterwards.


New Zealander Tom Taylor added another Barbarians score, before scrum-half Henry Seniloli claimed Fiji’s second try.


And Barbarians skipper De Villiers bagged his second try as time played out.


Wing Alexander Rokobaro raced in at the death for Fiji though, after a good midfield break from Seniloli.



Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24928518


Rugby - Du Plessis stars for Baa Baas in win over Fiji

Rugby - Entertaining Australia hold off Wales

In a season which saw the Wallabies lose to the British and Irish Lions, struggle in the Rugby Championship, sack coach Robbie Deans and suffer from ill-discipline off the field, they finished on a high as they look to build for the 2015 World Cup.


Led by strong performances from flyhalf Cooper and fullback Israel Folau, the visitors shrugged off an early try by Welsh wing George North to register a narrow victory, which included 20 points for centre Christian Lealiifano.


Lealiifano, Folau and Joe Tomane scored tries for the Wallabies, while North added his second as Wales recovered from 30-16 down to get agonisingly close to victory.


The result also meant Australia extended their winning streak over Wales to nine matches, an important boost as the two sides are due to meet in the pool stages of the World Cup, a group which also includes hosts England.


“As a team we’re very relieved,” Cooper told the BBC.


“We’ve prepared all year for a game like this. We’ve started to put things together as a team but Wales kept coming back at us.


“Wales are a class outfit. We knew they would keep coming but we stuck to our guns and did what we did for the majority of this tour.”


The match started in frenetic fashion, with Folau looking odds-on to score in the first minute after cutting through the Welsh defence.


The Six Nations champions managed to turn the ball over and spin it out to North, whose decision to kick looked to be the wrong option until Adam Ashley-Cooper failed to control, allowing the big wing to swoop for the try.


After two penalties to Wales and one to Australia, the visitors hit back with a spectacular try of their own.


Michael Hooper turned the ball over, and following a sublime pass by Cooper and subsequent offload by Tomane, Lealiifano was able to race through a hole in the defence.


A further penalty to Dan Biggar extended Wales’ advantage to 16-10, but they were starting to suffer in the face of losing four lineouts off their own throw and Australia’s backline fluency.


Australia blew two chances created by Cooper and Tomane before edging ahead before the half was out.


Biggar was given a yellow card after helping stop Folau from scoring what looked like another certain try, but Australia were rewarded for electing to keep the ball in hand, Folau eventually getting a deserved try to give his side a 17-16 lead at the break.


Australia added a further penalty immediately after the restart, and had their third try after 49 minutes when Tomane showed great hands to dot down in the corner.


With 21 minutes remaining North scored his second, powering his way through the defence to narrow the gap to a converted try to ensure a frantic final period.


Rhys Priestland knocked over a penalty with 12 minutes left, but despite having Cooper yellow-carded for an early tackle with six minutes left, Wales were unable to break the Australian defence for a third time.


The win rounds off a tough tour for Australia, who beat Italy, Scotland and Ireland but lost 20-13 to England, and had six players suspended and another nine sanctioned by coach Ewen McKenzie following a drinking session leading up to the Ireland test.


After going down to South Africa, Wales managed to beat Argentina and Tonga but will be disappointed that once again they failed to defeat one of the big teams from the southern hemisphere, their last victory being the 2008 win over Australia.


“We’ve been here a few too many times,” North said after the match.


“We put up a good fight but missed out at the end. We’re bitterly disappointed but we definitely pushed them until the end.


“There were a number of little mistakes but playing against a team like Australia you can’t stop concentrating for a second and they showed us that today.


“This autumn has been quite successful. We’ve come up short and we just need that extra one per cent.”



Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24928518


Rugby - Entertaining Australia hold off Wales

Australia regain Rugby League World Cup with easy win over New Zealand

Revenge was never on the agenda, apparently. Try telling that to New Zealand, who were outplayed, overpowered and overawed by their great rivals on the grand stage. Australia, who relinquished their grasp on the World Cup in such devastating circumstances five years ago, are champions once again.


Tim Sheens’s side were unstoppable. All five survivors from that 2008 heartache played pivotal roles to exorcise the demons of Brisbane and secure their team a place in the league pantheon. This was as one-sided and emphatic a final as you are likely to see.


As the final whistle sounded under the Manchester dusk and drew the curtain on a competition that began five weeks ago in Cardiff, the men in green and gold lifted their arms to the sky. For all the individual brilliance within the squad, victory here was achieved by the collective.


The Kangaroos have not conceded a try in 404 minutes of play, since Josh Charnley crossed for England in the opening game of the tournament. New Zealand, who boast a wealth of attacking riches, never even came close.


“The seniority in the team today really stood up,” said Sheens. “The young guys did their job, but the veterans stood up.”


The Australia coach was right to point to the old heads and he hailed the overall team performance. But there were some superb individual displays. Johnathan Thurston put every kick through the posts and orchestrated the game with astounding flair. Billy Slater, the full-back who was guilty of a horrendous error in 2008, was equally impressive. He and Brett Morris scored twice.


The captain, Cameron Smith, received a message of support before the match from his cricketing counterpart, Michael Clarke. He said: “I probably told a little white lie along the way, that this didn’t mean much against what happened in 2008. But standing out on that field after the match, a little bit of that disappointment was erased.”


It began as a slow burner, but the opening could hardly have gone better for Australia. With Slater starting following a fortnight out injured, his fitness was under dispute. Yet it was the Kiwis’ Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, another doubt for the game, who was forced off in the early stages.


As the winger limped off in the eighth minute, the pain in his eyes was obvious. New Zealand had to re-shuffle, with Stephen Kearney revealing that the youngster had suffered a potential hairline fracture. It was their right flank that received the significant early pressure.


Thurston and Shaun Johnson had put one penalty apiece on the scoreboard before the unrelenting Australian machine rumbled into gear. The Kiwis were struggling to break out of their own half under suffocating pressure. They cracked in the 19th minute when Thurston floated a kick from left to right where Slater outjumped Bryson Goodwin and crossed the line.


Kearney’s side could have been further behind had it not been for some heroic defending from Isaac Luke, who held up Cooper Cronk and won a penalty following a push from Andrew Fifita. However, the green and gold wave was not to be denied.


Cronk did get over 10 minutes before the interval, capitalising on some lackadaisical defending and latching on to a miscued grubber kick from Darius Boyd before racing clear. Thurston added another penalty to secure the Kangaroos a 14-point lead at half-time and Slater stretched the advantage in the 41st minute, dealing a killer blow after a slick passage of play that involved Thurston and Boyd.


New Zealand were bereft of ideas. Kearney said: “Australia’s performance was nothing short of outstanding, we just couldn’t get ourselves in the contest. We were hanging on there. They gave us a real lesson there.”


Australia, tough in defence and dominant in midfield, were rampant and increased their lead through Morris, who started and finished a wonderful move with 25 minutes remaining, fed in following an astonishing piece of improvised handling from Jarryd Hayne.


The Kiwis fought until the bitter end but were undone by Morris, again, who raced clear with eight minutes remaining. It was a fitting way to seal Australia’s return to the world summit. They could stay there for some time.


Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24928518


Australia regain Rugby League World Cup with easy win over New Zealand

Wales vs. Australia Rugby 2013: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

Ewen McKenzie will recall the previously suspended duo of Nick Cummins and Adam Ashley-Cooper for this weekend’s visit to the Millennium Stadium, where Australia seek to end their November Test series with a win over Wales.





Harry Engels/Getty Images


BBC Sport confirmed the pair’s return and went on to note that this weekend will be Quade Cooper’s 50th cap for the Wallabies—a sentimental achievement given that it wasn’t long ago Cooper was exiled from international involvement, per the Courier Mail‘s Jamie Pandaram.


Both sides have enjoyed a fruitful autumn period with a lot of positives to take away from the last four weeks, making this weekend’s clash in Cardiff all the more important in terms of ending on a high note.


Read on for all the essential viewing information and a preview of Saturday’s matchup.


 


Date: Saturday, Nov. 30


Time: 5 p.m. local time (GMT)/12 p.m. ET


Venue: Millennium Stadium


Viewing Info: BBC Two (UK)


Stream: BBC Sport website


 


Back Lines Restored 


As BBC Sport recently reported, Alex Cuthbert makes his return to Warren Gatland’s starting XV this weekend after it had been feared the winger would miss all of Wales’ autumn series. 





Stu Forster/Getty Images


Scott Williams also comes back into the lineup to partner namesake Owen in the centre, with Dan Biggar replacing James Hook at fly-half.


Given the raft of recent injuries, it’s the best back line that the Welsh could hope for against Australia, who are themselves restrengthened of late.




    As aforementioned, Cummins and Ashley-Cooper will add some talent to the wing and in the centre respectively, while Christian Lealiifano moves into the No. 12 jersey with Mike Harris dropping out.


    All in all, it looks like an intriguing battle of the backs, with other superstar names such as Leigh Halfpenny, Israel Folau, George North and Cooper set to write the story, too.


    It’s here that a great deal of the entertainment will unfold, and fans couldn’t hope for a much more explosive way to cap off a thrilling November.


     


    Wales Key Player to Watch: Sam Warburton


    Another of those who didn’t feature in the 17-7 win over Tonga last Friday was Welsh captain Sam Warburton, who Gatland will hope is fully refreshed for what promises to be a gruelling contest against McKenzie’s men.


    Opposite Warburton will be Michael Hooper, one of the emerging heroes in McKenzie’s squad and a player who, despite being just 22 years of age, is already a firm part of the “new-look” Australia.





    Stu Forster/Getty Images


    The impending encounter between these two at the breakdown is an angle that can’t be ignored, both flankers are seen as essential figures in their respective teams’ ability to turn over ball and hit the opponent with quick counters.


    Warburton’s reign as captain of his national team has been a largely successful one, which led to him being named skipper of the British and Irish Lions—against Australia—during the summer.


    This weekend needs to evoke a similarly passionate showing if Warburton and his troops are to win out.


     


    Australia Key Player to Watch: Israel Folau


    It’s difficult to look past Israel Folau as Australia’s most likely source of points on any occasion, the fullback being his nation’s top try scorer in 2013 as he continues to inspire from the rear.



    Having only been given his first real run of fixtures in the No. 15 jersey this summer, Folau has coped excellently with the change and appears to be improving as he goes, shortening his weaknesses game by game.


    With Halfpenny on the other side of the pitch, the Wallaby star by no means has an easy task on his hands, but has shown against the likes of Scotland, Ireland and Italy just how much potential he has to make something out of nothing.


    Unlike Halfpenny, Folau does not possess a match-winning boot, but he’s exceptional under the high ball and is one of world rugby’s most elusive runners.


    The contrast in styles makes for a head-to-head that’s likely to prove decisive in determining which of the sides triumphs.


    One thing for certain is that Folau will be one of those most responsible for invading Welsh lines; it’s a question of whether the hosts have sufficient stamina to withstand that pressure.


    Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24928518


    Wales vs. Australia Rugby 2013: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

    Wales were beaten 21-5 by Argentina in the Dubai Sevens plate final.

    Wales were beaten 21-5 by Argentina in the Dubai Sevens plate final.


    Paul John’s side beat Australia 19-14 in Pool B on their way to the main competition’s quarter-finals, where they were beaten 33-12 by England.


    That sent Paul John’s side into a plate semi-final against Kenya that they won 24-19.


    But the Pumas proved to powerful and Wales finished sixth overall in the International Rugby Board 2013-14 series second round.


    Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24928518


    Wales were beaten 21-5 by Argentina in the Dubai Sevens plate final.

    Autumn internationals: Australia edge Wales in Cardiff thriller

    Wales’ inability to translate Six Nations dominance into victories over the southern hemisphere superpowers continued as they slumped to a ninth successive defeat against Australia in a frantic finale to the autumn series in Cardiff.


    An early George North try and two Leigh Halfpenny penalties saw the hosts lead 13-3, but Australia’s attacking brilliance brought scores for Christian Leali’ifano and Israel Folau before the interval.


    A third try for Joe Tomane stretched the visitors’ lead to 30-16 before North’s second try and a Rhys Priestland penalty gave Wales hope of snatching victory.


    But Australia, despite losing fly-half Quade Cooper to the sin-bin for the final five minutes, kept the hosts at bay.


    Former Wales captain Matthew Rees




    “Wales are probably frustrated. Sam Warburton spoke about getting a scalp and we’ve come second again. The boys played really well. Plenty of credit for the younger boys that have come through and gained caps over the last four weeks.”



    In doing so they inflicted a 22nd defeat in 23 Tests on Wales against the Sanzar nations (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia) during coach Warren Gatland’s tenure, and an 18th consecutive loss against the big three since they beat the Wallabies in 2008 at the end of his first year in charge.


    If the margins are small – Wales’ previous three defeats by Australia were by a combined total of five points – their continued inability to bridge the gap to the world’s best teams remains a huge source of frustration.


    Here they encountered a potent Wallabies side who underlined their improvement under new coach Ewen McKenzie with a fourth straight win in their 15th Test of a marathon year.


    An explosive start saw Wales almost concede a try inside the first minute, when the outstanding Cooper released Folau through a gap, only to promptly race away and score themselves at the other end.


    Lock Alun Wyn Jones won a vital turnover, centre Scott Williams shipped the ball swiftly left to North, who sprinted 30 metres and then chipped ahead up the left touchline.


    The retreating Adam Ashley-Cooper, attempting to reach down and pick up a low bouncing ball, only succeeded in diverting it towards his own tryline with his foot where North got to it first to touch down in the left corner.


    Halfpenny converted from the touchline, added a penalty for a 10-0 lead in the 11th minute and restored the 10-point advantage when Leali’ifano got Australia off the mark with a penalty.


    But despite their positive start, the Welsh foundations were shaky. Their defence was breached far too easily, and their inability to control their own line-out ball, losing four of their own throws in the first half, handed Australia possession and territory.


    Christian Leali


    Centre Leali’ifano scored Australia’s opener and kicked 15 points


    With plenty of ball to work with, Cooper was allowed to give free rein to his unique talents, creating the first Wallabies try with a sublime piece of skill.


    After the excellent Michael Hooper won a turnover, Cooper looped around Ashley-Cooper before a wonderful offload out the back of his hand to right wing Tomane, whose inside pass released Leali’ifano to score.


    The inside centre converted to make it 13-10, but Halfpenny missed a chance – only his second failure in his last 20 attempts – to extend Wales’ lead when a further penalty attempt came back off an upright.


    The full-back then relinquished the goalkicking duties to Dan Biggar, who landed a penalty to make it 16-10.


    But the Wallabies oozed attacking menace, Cooper repeating his earlier trick after standing up Sam Warburton and then releasing another sublime pass to Tomane.


    This time Wales were grateful for the retreating Ian Evans, who intercepted Leali’ifano’s inside pass metres from the line, and then Biggar for hauling down Folau. But the fly-half was sin-binned for failing to move away after making the tackle, and Folau was not to be denied moments later, barging through Mike Phillips’s tackle from close range.


    Leali’ifano’s conversion put Australia ahead at the interval, and there was no let-up from the Wallabies on the resumption.


    Hooper charged deep into the heart of the Welsh defence, who fell offside to give Leali’ifano a simple penalty in front of the posts.


    Official match stats







    Wales

    Australia


    48%


    Possession


    52%


    43%


    Territory


    57%


    3


    Scrums won (lost)


    2 (1)


    9 (4)


    Line-outs won (lost)


    10 (2)


    10


    Pens conceded


    15


    86 (8)


    Rucks won (lost)


    91 (9)


    30


    Possession kicked


    27


    141 (15)


    Tackles made (missed)


    119 (15)


    9


    Offloads


    14


    5


    Line breaks


    9


    (provided by Opta)



    He added another after 52 minutes to make it 30-16 after Tomane had scored the visitors’ third try with a delicate dab-down in the right corner. If there was a hint of a forward pass from Folau, the replays were inconclusive.


    Wales, staring into the abyss, rallied impressively. Replacement Liam Williams, on for namesake Owen, was released down the left wing and cut inside to within metres of the line, but Australia won a penalty at the breakdown.


    Moments later though North came barrelling off his wing, surging past James Horwill and away from Will Genia, with a devastating burst of speed to dot down under the posts.


    Biggar’s conversion was a formality, and a penalty from replacement fly-half Priestland with 11 minutes left made it a four-point game as the crowd roared their approval.


    Cooper, attempting to push Australia two scores ahead again, made a woeful hash of a drop-goal and was then yellow-carded after the TMO adjudged he had held back Scott Williams as he attempted to claim Justin Tipuric’s pass.


    But that, despite a harum-scarum final flurry, was as close as Wales got. Their southern hemisphere hoodoo continues.


    Wales:


    Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Owen Williams, Scott Williams, George North, Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Richard Hibbard, Rhodri Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (capt), Toby Faletau.


    Replacements:


    Ken Owens (for Hibbard, 63), Ryan Bevington, Samson Lee (for Rhodri Jones, 67), Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric (for Lydiate, 63), Rhodri Williams (for Phillips, 72), Rhys (for Biggar, 63) , Liam Williams (for Owen Williams, 50).


    Australia:


    Israel Folau; Joe Tomane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali’lifano, Nick Cummins; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen (capt).


    Replacements:


    Tatafu Polota Nau (for Moore, 70), Benn Robinson (for Slipper, 63), Ben Alexander (for Kepu, 55), Kane Douglas (for Horwill, 60), Dave Dennis (for Mowen, 70), Nic White, Mike Harris (for Leali’ifano, 62), Bernard Foley (for Tomane, 75)


    Referee:


    Wayne Barnes (England)


    Attendance:


    67,436


    Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24928518


    Autumn internationals: Australia edge Wales in Cardiff thriller

    Quade Cooper takes charge in Wallabies win

    A Quade Cooper-inspired Australia have ended a difficult year with an entertaining 30-26 win over Wales in the final November international in Cardiff.


    In a season which saw the Wallabies lose to the British and Irish Lions, struggle in the Rugby Championship, sack coach Robbie Deans and suffer from ill-discipline off the field, they finished on a high on Saturday, as they look to build for the 2015 World Cup.


    Led by strong performances from flyhalf Cooper and fullback Israel Folau, the visitors shrugged off an early try by Welsh wing George North to register a narrow victory, which included 20 points for centre Christian Lealiifano.


    Lealiifano, Folau and Joe Tomane scored tries for the Wallabies, while North added his second as Wales recovered from 30-16 down to get agonisingly close to victory.


    The result also meant Australia extended their winning streak over Wales to nine matches, an important boost as the two sides are due to meet in the pool stages of the World Cup, a group which also includes hosts England.


    “As a team we’re very relieved,” Cooper told the BBC.


    “We’ve prepared all year for a game like this. We’ve started to put things together as a team but Wales kept coming back at us.


    “Wales are a class outfit. We knew they would keep coming but we stuck to our guns and did what we did for the majority of this tour.”


    North swoops


    The match started in frenetic fashion, with Folau looking odds-on to score in the first minute after cutting through the Welsh defence.


    The Six Nations champions managed to turn the ball over and spin it out to North, whose decision to kick looked to be the wrong option until Adam Ashley- Cooper failed to control, allowing the big wing to swoop for the try.


    After two penalties to Wales and one to Australia, the visitors hit back with a spectacular try of their own.


    Michael Hooper turned the ball over, and following a sublime pass by Cooper and subsequent offload by Tomane, Lealiifano was able to race through a hole in the defence.


    A further penalty to Dan Biggar extended Wales’ advantage to 16-10, but they were starting to suffer in the face of losing four lineouts off their own throw  and Australia’s backline fluency.


    Australia blew two chances created by Cooper and Tomane before edging ahead before the half was out.


    Biggar was given a yellow card after helping stop Folau from scoring what looked like another certain try, but Australia were rewarded for electing to keep  the ball in hand, Folau eventually getting a deserved try to give his side a 17-16 lead at the break.


    Australia added a further penalty immediately after the restart, and had their third try after 49 minutes when Tomane showed great hands to dot down in the corner.


    With 21 minutes remaining North scored his second, powering his way through the defence to narrow the gap to a converted try to ensure a frantic final period.


    Rhys Priestland knocked over a penalty with 12 minutes left, but despite having Cooper yellow-carded for an early tackle with six minutes left, Wales were unable to break the Australian defence for a third time.


    The win rounds off a tough tour for Australia, who beat Italy, Scotland and Ireland but lost 20-13 to England, and had six players suspended and another nine sanctioned by coach Ewen McKenzie following a drinking session leading up to the Ireland test.


    After going down to South Africa, Wales managed to beat Argentina and Tonga but will be disappointed that once again they failed to defeat one of the big teams from the southern hemisphere, their last victory being the 2008 win over Australia.




    630



    Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24928518


    Quade Cooper takes charge in Wallabies win

    England finish fourth at Dubai 7s

    England finished fourth at the Dubai Sevens after Tim Mikkelson’s late try clinched a 17-14 play-off win for New Zealand.


    Head coach Simon Amor’s team beat Wales 33-12 but they went down 26-12 at the semi final stage to South Africa before going down against the HSBC Sevens World Series champions.


    England finished third in the opening event of the Series last month and they are now fourth in the overall standings and Amor was in optimistic mood ahead of the South Africa Sevens in Port Elizabeth next weekend.


    England trailed 12-0 in the first half of the play-off before Sam Edgerley and Phil Burgess struck either side of half time only for Mikkelson to get away 20 seconds from time.


    Earlier Marcus Watson had scored a hat-trick of tries in the big win over Wales at the quarter final stage.


    James Davies and Ashley Evans replied but England pulled away in the second half with Burgess and Mat Turner also touching down.


    Tries from Mike Ellery and Mitchell kept England in touch against South Africa in the semi but late strikes from Werner Kok and Chris Dry ended their title hopes.


    Fiji, 26-21 winners over England in the pool stages, went on to lift the title by beating South Africa 29-17 in the final.


    England made it out of the group stages in second place after  suffering a 26-21 defeat against Fiji.


    Samisoni Viriviri got Fiji on the board early but James Rodwell replied in kind in the next minute to make it 7-7.


    Ben Ryan’s men went into the break 14-7 in front though as Emosi Mulevoro went over under the posts on the last play.


    Two quick tries from Donasio Ratubuli and Benito Masilevu put the Islanders in control although Mike Ellery grabbed two consolation tries for England.


    Earlier, they started with a slick seven-try 47-7 success over Canada and then saw off the USA 28-5 as Amor gave all 12 squad members a start in the first two matches.


    They started with a slick seven-try 47-7 success over Canada and then saw off the USA 28-5 as Simon Amor gave all 12 squad members a start in the first two matches.


    Against Canada, Ellery, Burgess, Bibby, Tom Mitchell, Rodwell, Dan Norton and Jeff Williams all crossed the line while Bibby’s kicking was close to perfect as he added six conversions.


    Against the USA, former England U20s captain Alex Gray scored his first try on the World Series tour with Rodwell, Watson and Mitchell also striking.


    England Women’s were also in action in Dubai but their journey ended this morning following a 19-12 defeat to Australia.


    They rallied to lift the Plate trophy beating the USA 12-10 and Spain 17-10 in the final.


    Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24928518


    England finish fourth at Dubai 7s

    Wales v Australia: Live rugby union streaming and game preview

    Can the home side beat their Wallaby hoodoo this weekend in Cardiff?


    Where: Millennium Stadium


    When: 17.00 (GMT)


    Click here to watch on BBC Sport online!


    Warren Gatland may have tried to play it down but the Wales coach knows better than anyone how much it would mean to his side to beat Australia in Cardiff on Saturday.


    Reigning Six Nations champions Wales may have won two European Grand Slams since Gatland became their coach in 2008 but his adopted country’s record in the same time against southern hemisphere giants New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in the same period is dire, with just one win and 21 defeats.


    Wales have lost their last eight Tests against Australia, albeit four of those reverses have been by three points or fewer, most recently in last year’s fixture at the Millennium Stadium where Kurtley Beale’s late try condemned the Welsh to a 14-12 defeat.


    The losing streak is all the more concerning for Wales given they have been drawn alongside Australia and 2015 hosts England in the same World Cup “group of death”.


    Gatland tried to explain that poor run of results by saying: “People have got to be aware that probably in the past we’ve used (the November internationals) as a preparation for the Six Nations because that’s our bread and butter — these are friendlies.


    “Our focus has changed a bit this autumn.”


    But unimpressed Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie said: “They’ve decided suddenly it’s time to actually go out and beat those teams, I don’t know why they weren’t deciding that last year or the year before.


    “He (Gatland) has been at it since 2008, he’s had plenty of time to make that decision.”


    This year Gatland coached the British and Irish Lions to a 2-1 series win in Australia and 11 of the players from that squad are in his Wales starting line-up, including fit-again wing Alex Cuthbert and powerhouse flyer George North.


    Completing the back three is full-back Leigh Halfpenny, man of the series in Australia but still eager to transfer that form from the red shirt of the Lions to the red of Wales.


    “We have been close many times now, one or two points in it,” Halfpenny said.


    “It has been very frustrating at times when we’ve come off and felt like we played the better rugby but it didn’t quite win the game.


    “Now we have to go to that next level by beating the southern hemisphere teams like Australia,” added Halfpenny, a nominee for the International Rugby Board player of the year award.


    Unfortunately for Wales, Australia head into the final major international of 2013 on their best run of form of the year with successive wins over Italy, Ireland and Scotland following a tour-opening defeat by England that scuppered all hope of a Grand Slam.


    Saturday’s match is set to see fly-half Quade Cooper, frozen out by former Australia coach Robbie Deans, win his 50th cap.


    Meanwhile backs Nick Cummins and Adam Ashley-Cooper return having been among a group of players banned by McKenzie from playing in Edinburgh for their part in a late night drinking session in Dublin.


    It was a calculated risk by McKenzie but one that appeared to do the Wallabies little harm against a Scotland side that rarely looked like scoring a try during Australia’s 21015 win last weekend.


    Wales ought to pose more attacking threat although they themselves were rendered try-less by South Africa earlier this month.


    Several Australia players, including captain and No 8 Ben Mowen, have played more than 30 matches this season.


    But McKenzie insisted fatigue would not be an excuse come Saturday.


    “We’re treating this week a little bit like our Grand Final,” said the former Australia prop, a World Cup winner as a player in 1991.


    “I think everyone will be extremely motivated by the circumstances of the game and the opportunity to play Wales in their backyard,” McKenzie added.


    One thing both packs in particular will hope for is an improvement in the quality of the Millennium’s notoriously poor pitch, otherwise scrums, as was sometimes the case on an unusually unstable surface at Murrayfield, could well become a lottery.


    Head-to-head record between Wales and Australia


    Played: 36


    Wales wins: 10


    Australia wins: 25


    Drawn: 1


    Highest Scores: Wales 29-29, 2006; Australia 63-6, 1991


    Biggest Wins: Wales 28-3, 1975; Australia 63-6, 1991


    Last five results


    2012 Cardiff: AUS 14-12


    2012 Sydney: AUS 20-19


    2012 Melbourne: AUS 25-23


    2012 Brisbane: AUS 27-19


    2011 Cardiff: AUS 24-18


    Teams


    Wales


    Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Owen Williams, Scott Williams, George North; Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Toby Faletau, Sam Warburton (capt), Dan Lydiate; Ian Evans, Alun Wyn Jones; Rhodri Jones, Richard Hibbard, Gethin Jenkins


    Replacements: Ken Owens, Ryan Bevington, Samson Lee, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Rhodri Williams, Rhys Priestland, Liam Williams


    Australia


    Israel Folau, Joe Tomane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali’ifano, Nick Cummins; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ben Mowen (capt), Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy; James Horwill, Rob Simmons; Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, James Slipper


    Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas Dave Dennis, Nic White, Mike Harris, Bernard Foley


    Referee: Wayne Barnes (ENG)


     



    Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24928518


    Wales v Australia: Live rugby union streaming and game preview

    Rugby League World Cup report card: the final analysis


    1. The England team bowed out with their heads held high, but certain players

    should hold theirs in shame. Gareth Hock was expelled after he, along with

    other unnamed players, broke a drinking ban. Zak Hardaker was the next to

    leave, after getting into a drunken brawl on a team day off. Rangi Chase

    made it an embarrassing hat-trick when he had a tantrum over being dropped.

    Coach Steve McNamara also did himself no favours with his inept handling of

    the incidents.



    2. Wales shot their development in the foot with arguably the worst

    performances by any nation in the tournament. They looked clueless and

    lifeless at times in their defeats to tournament qualifiers Italy and USA

    and made it an embarrassing hat-trick of defeats when they bowed out to the

    Cook Islands, ruining the chance to reach a quarter-final that had been

    arranged in Wrexham specifically for them and their fans. A glorious chance

    to push league in the country has now been lost.



    3. The world’s top referees appeared to have taken a joint vow of indecision

    at times. No doubt aware of the scrutiny that TV replays put them under, the

    on-field officials too often adopted an irritating tendency to refer try

    decisions to the video referee. Those faceless officials also seemed wracked

    by doubts, asking for seemingly endless replays of incidents from every

    possible camera angle. It meant some halves were running more than 15

    minutes over time.


    Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24928518


    Rugby League World Cup report card: the final analysis

    Rugby Champions Cup used by French to drive revamp of European game

    French clubs have admitted using the Rugby Champions Cup – the competition they were planning with Premiership Rugby to replace the Heineken Cup and ERC – as a stalking horse to drive their plans to overhaul the way rugby union is run in Europe.


    The French are determined to follow football’s model and set up a Uefa-style body, based in Geneva, to run the game from top to bottom. Paul Goze, president of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, the body made up of the clubs in the top two divisions in France, said that was one of the key factors behind the Top 14 clubs voting for a year’s stay of execution on the Heineken Cup. That decision dealt a severe blow to English clubs’ desire to create a new European tournament.


    While French clubs, along with Premiership Rugby, have spent the past 18 months battling with the unions – who hold the majority on European Rugby Cup (ERC) – the French Rugby Federation (FFR) has been trying to convince its fellow members on the Six Nations committee that the game needs to become all-embracing rather than elitist.


    That is why the French clubs last week recommended that the Heineken Cup continue for one more season under ERC administration. “The new structure we are looking for cannot be put together in a few months,” said Goze.


    Goze admitted knowing the French clubs had no chance of taking part in the English clubs’ plans because French law requires sporting organisations to compete only in tournaments that are sanctioned by their governing body. “The Rugby Champions Cup was not an end in itself, but a means to achieve progress on issues such as meritocracy, financial distribution and governance,” he said. “We succeeded in the first two, but governance will take a bit longer. It was a case of being pragmatic and we think we can achieve what we want in another way. We want a different structure to run the game, federation style, as happens in football, and we have more than a year to sort it out.”


    The FFR has come under pressure from Fira, the body made up of the smaller unions in Europe, with whom it has a close relationship, to broaden the remit of the Six Nations, which it sees as a closed shop that effectively only runs one tournament.


    When the unions met in Dublin last month and announced that the Heineken Cup would be continuing next season without the English clubs, the statement they issued included a cryptic final paragraph: “The common aim is to move eventually towards the integration of European competitions within an all-encompassing European rugby framework.”


    The FFR and its clubs want that integration to happen at the start of the 2014-15 season, but others are fearful of the impact of a democratic approach, which could lead to a second division in the Six Nations. Both French bodies are unhappy that the Six Nations and ERC are based in Dublin, and want the Uefa-style body to be based in Switzerland because of its rugby neutrality, as well as for tax reasons.


    Competitions, such as European club rugby, would have a sub-office elsewhere, possibly London, where they would be run on a daily basis. The French envisage that the Heineken Cup would be run commercially by the leagues. “If the unions do not concede that, there will be no competition,” said Goze.


    The short-term question is whether the French plan for a transition year next season, with ERC continuing to run the Heineken Cup, will come off. The Premiership clubs will meet this week to debate whether to take part, having sworn they would have nothing more to do with ERC after the end of the season.


    “If the English decide not to take part, we will have to decide whether we will – and I think we will not participate,” said Goze, “but I do not want to anticipate what may happen: the idea is that the English do play in Europe ahead of the structural change from 2014.”


    The uncertainty is not what the four Welsh regions wanted to hear. They have until the end of the month to sign a new four-year participation agreement with their union. The offer is for a roll-on deal that does not include an increase in the £6.2m they receive, apart from an annual inflation-linked rise.


    “If we sign and nothing happens in Europe, we will have condemned our businesses,” one regional administrator said. “If we do not sign, our money will stop in June and we would not have the means to pay our players. Europe is the key to this, but no one seems to know what is going on.”


    Article source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/444968/Wasps-5-Bath-28-Dai-Young-apologises-for-sorry-display


    Rugby Champions Cup used by French to drive revamp of European game

    Rugby League World Cup final: New Zealand v Australia

    Rugby scarves adorn a football theatre #bbcrl http://t.co/frMjndXIQc


    Favourite on Twitter Retweet on Twitter Reply on Twitter Jump out of Tweet pane


    Article source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/444968/Wasps-5-Bath-28-Dai-Young-apologises-for-sorry-display


    Rugby League World Cup final: New Zealand v Australia

    Wales prop Gethin Jenkins out to end Australia"s dominance

    Gethin Jenkins: Tasted victory over Australia in 2008


    Gethin Jenkins: Tasted victory over Australia in 2008


    Gethin Jenkins admits “winning is everything” for Wales as they prepare to tackle Australia at the Millennium Stadium.


    Jenkins and lock Alun-Wyn Jones are the only two starting XV survivors from Wales’ last victory over Australia five years ago.


    Since then, the Wallabies have reeled off eight successive wins, with Wales losing 17 Tests in a row to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.


    While Jenkins, whose 101st Wales appearance will make him his country’s most-capped forward ahead of flanker Martyn Williams, accepts that Saturday’s game means little with regard to the countries’ 2015 World Cup pool meeting, he also knows a home triumph is essential.


    “We just want to concentrate on this game. Winning is everything,” said Jenkins.


    “We came off second-best against South Africa (three weeks ago), but we are hoping it will be a bit different on Saturday.


    “We are working as hard as we can. It’s not like we look at the southern hemisphere and think ‘we’re struggling there’.


    Playing catch-up


    “They are really good teams and they play in a really good competition in the Rugby Championship.


    “They always seem to have that little bit of an edge on us, and we’ve been playing catch-up over the past four or five years, but we will continue to work to get to that level.”


    Jenkins was a member of the British and Irish Lions squad that enjoyed a victorious tour to Australia earlier this year, but injury meant he did not play a game.


    So unlike many of his Wales colleagues this weekend, Jenkins’ wait for a win against the Wallabies stretches back to 2008.


    “I’ve lost, I think, the last six games against them,” he added. “I definitely have two of those games in my mind where I think we were naive to lose in the last minute or two.


    “I definitely want to put that right at the weekend, but Australia are a great team with quality throughout their side, especially at half-back, at 15 and in the forwards.


    “(Kurtley) Beale’s try was the finale of last year’s game (Wales lost 14-12), but there were a couple of key moments just before it where we messed up.


    “I suppose that was another learning curve for us in terms of what needs to be done to shut games off. I know it was only a year ago, but it feels like a long time ago, given the amount of games we’ve played in between.”



    Article source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/444968/Wasps-5-Bath-28-Dai-Young-apologises-for-sorry-display


    Wales prop Gethin Jenkins out to end Australia"s dominance

    Alun Wyn-er Jones ready to take Wales to face Australia

    With their plethora of Lions, they should devour the Wallabies today. But it is a precarious favouritism.


    “It’s frustrating when you look at our tour to Australia in 2012 when it was just an eight-point deficit across the three games,” said Jones. “Then, last year, their try came in the dying moments. We realise we have been there or thereabouts, but essentially that’s not good enough. We’ve beaten them in the Welsh jersey before, we are perfectly capable of doing it again.”


    Ireland’s last-ditch defeat by the All Blacks last Sunday was an eerie reminder of the Welsh experience in each of their past three Tests with Australia.


    “New Zealand are fortunate to have formed the habit of being composed under pressure,” said Jones. “Warren has said the only way you learn to play with calm heads under pressure chasing the game or trying to close the game out is by continuing to do it against these bigger sides. We faltered the last four times against Australia. At least three of them we should have won.”


    WALES: L Halfpenny; A Cuthbert, O Williams, S Williams, G North; D Biggar, M Phillips; G Jenkins, R Hibbard, Rhodri Jones, A Wyn Jones, I Evans, D Lydiate, S Warburton (capt), T Faletau. Replacements: K Owens, R Bevington, S Lee, Ryan Jones, J Tipuric, R Williams, R Priestland, L Williams.


    AUSTRALIA: I Folau; J Tomane, A Ashley-Cooper, C Leali’ifano, N Cummins; Q Cooper, W Genia; J Slipper, S Moore, S Kepu, R Simmons, J Horwill, S Fardy, M Hooper, B Mowen (capt). Replacements: T Polota-Nau, B Robinson, B Alexander, K Douglas, D Dennis, N White, M Harris, B Foley.


    Referee: W Barnes (England).


    Kick-off: 5pm. TV: BBC2, 4.30pm.


    Article source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/444968/Wasps-5-Bath-28-Dai-Young-apologises-for-sorry-display


    Alun Wyn-er Jones ready to take Wales to face Australia

    Wales v Australia: Autumn international seriesLive

    Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nick Cummins, two of the six players dropped for the win over Scotland after a late night at a Dublin nightclub the previous week, are recalled by coach Ewen McKenzie.


    The partnership between Will Genia and Quade Cooper at nine and 10 is in place with Christian Leali’ifano at inside centre.


    Australia: Israel Folau; Joe Tomane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali’lifano, Nick Cummins; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen (capt).


    Replacements: Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Nic White, Mike Harris, Bernard Foley


    Article source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/444968/Wasps-5-Bath-28-Dai-Young-apologises-for-sorry-display


    Wales v Australia: Autumn international seriesLive

    England beat Wales to reach Dubai 7s semi-finals

    England finished fourth at the Dubai Sevens after Tim Mikkelson’s late try clinched a 17-14 play-off win for New Zealand.


    Head coach Simon Amor’s team beat Wales 33-12 but they went down 26-12 at the semi final stage to South Africa before going down against the HSBC Sevens World Series champions.


    England finished third in the opening event of the Series last month and they are now fourth in the overall standings and Amor was in optimistic mood ahead of the South Africa Sevens in Port Elizabeth next weekend.


    England trailed 12-0 in the first half of the play-off before Sam Edgerley and Phil Burgess struck either side of half time only for Mikkelson to get away 20 seconds from time.


    Earlier Marcus Watson had scored a hat-trick of tries in the big win over Wales at the quarter final stage.


    James Davies and Ashley Evans replied but England pulled away in the second half with Burgess and Mat Turner also touching down.


    Tries from Mike Ellery and Mitchell kept England in touch against South Africa in the semi but late strikes from Werner Kok and Chris Dry ended their title hopes.


    Fiji, 26-21 winners over England in the pool stages, went on to lift the title by beating South Africa 29-17 in the final.


    England made it out of the group stages in second place after  suffering a 26-21 defeat against Fiji.


    Samisoni Viriviri got Fiji on the board early but James Rodwell replied in kind in the next minute to make it 7-7.


    Ben Ryan’s men went into the break 14-7 in front though as Emosi Mulevoro went over under the posts on the last play.


    Two quick tries from Donasio Ratubuli and Benito Masilevu put the Islanders in control although Mike Ellery grabbed two consolation tries for England.


    Earlier, they started with a slick seven-try 47-7 success over Canada and then saw off the USA 28-5 as Amor gave all 12 squad members a start in the first two matches.


    They started with a slick seven-try 47-7 success over Canada and then saw off the USA 28-5 as Simon Amor gave all 12 squad members a start in the first two matches.


    Against Canada, Ellery, Burgess, Bibby, Tom Mitchell, Rodwell, Dan Norton and Jeff Williams all crossed the line while Bibby’s kicking was close to perfect as he added six conversions.


    Against the USA, former England U20s captain Alex Gray scored his first try on the World Series tour with Rodwell, Watson and Mitchell also striking.


    England Women’s were also in action in Dubai but their journey ended this morning following a 19-12 defeat to Australia.


    They rallied to lift the Plate trophy beating the USA 12-10 and Spain 17-10 in the final.


    Article source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/444968/Wasps-5-Bath-28-Dai-Young-apologises-for-sorry-display


    England beat Wales to reach Dubai 7s semi-finals

    Rugby League World Cup 2013: Robbie Hunter-Paul"s expert guide to the final


    Sonny Bill Williams and Greg Inglis are not in direct opposition but they are

    both players with that X-factor who can win a game in the glimpse of an eye

    with a stroke of sheer brilliance. New Zealand’s Sonny Bill is an absolute

    freak and there is no doubt he is the most gifted rugby player on the

    planet, in either league or union. We have seen how he can destroy teams,

    but Australia’s Inglis can be just as dangerous if he is not stopped. I

    expect him to start at full-back instead of Billy Slater and New Zealand

    need to stop him finding space to run.



    The one per cent Factor



    England are still licking their wounds and wondering how they didn’t beat New

    Zealand in last week’s semi-final, after leading with just 20 seconds to go.

    Losing like that hurts badly but winning in that manner does not happen by

    accident. New Zealand and Australia both have that determination and

    patience to come up with those big plays at the right time. This final is so

    tight to call that it is likely to be decided by which team controls the one

    per centers the better. Any slight mistake will be seized upon – as England

    discovered to their cost.



    Finding the extra spark



    Australia have not conceded a try in their last four games. They have also

    scored the most points of any team, hitting the 50-plus mark in three games

    and racking up a total of 238 points with just 22 conceded. New Zealand

    therefore have a battle on their hands to breach the Kangaroos line, but

    they 206 points for and 52 against. Both teams have shown they desperately

    defend, so it depends on who can find the magic close to the try line.



    Robbie Hunter-Paul is a former New Zealand international. He is also part of

    BBC TV’s World Cup team.


    Article source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/444968/Wasps-5-Bath-28-Dai-Young-apologises-for-sorry-display


    Rugby League World Cup 2013: Robbie Hunter-Paul"s expert guide to the final

    Friday 29 November 2013

    Rugby - Winning is everything - Jenkins

    Jenkins and lock Alun-Wyn Jones are the only two starting XV survivors from Wales’ last victory over Australia five years ago.


    Since then, the Wallabies have reeled off eight successive wins, with Wales losing 17 Tests in a row to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.


    While Jenkins, whose 101st Wales appearance will make him his country’s most-capped forward ahead of flanker Martyn Williams, accepts that Saturday’s game means little with regard to the countries’ 2015 World Cup pool meeting, he also knows a home triumph is essential.


    “We just want to concentrate on this game. Winning is everything,” the Cardiff Blues forward said.


    “We came off second-best against South Africa (three weeks ago), but we are hoping it will be a bit different on Saturday.


    “We are working as hard as we can. It’s not like we look at the southern hemisphere and think ‘we’re struggling there’.


    “They are really good teams and they play in a really good competition in the Rugby Championship.


    “They always seem to have that little bit of an edge on us, and we’ve been playing catch-up over the past four or five years, but we will continue to work to get to that level.”


    Jenkins was a member of the British and Irish Lions squad that enjoyed a victorious tour to Australia earlier this year, but injury meant he did not play a game.


    So unlike many of his Wales colleagues this weekend, Jenkins’ wait for a win against the Wallabies stretches back to 2008.


    “I’ve lost, I think, the last six games against them,” he added. “I definitely have two of those games in my mind where I think we were naive to lose in the last minute or two.


    “I definitely want to put that right at the weekend, but Australia are a great team with quality throughout their side, especially at half-back, at 15 and in the forwards.


    “(Kurtley) Beale’s try was the finale of last year’s game (Wales lost 14-12), but there were a couple of key moments just before it where we messed up.


    “I suppose that was another learning curve for us in terms of what needs to be done to shut games off. I know it was only a year ago, but it feels like a long time ago, given the amount of games we’ve played in between.”



    Article source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10454094/Unsettled-England-centre-Kyle-Eastmond-not-returning-to-rugby-league-insist-Bath.html


    Rugby - Winning is everything - Jenkins

    Rugby star faces rape claims trial

    The trial involving Norman Pender from Hawick, Roxburghshire, has been fixed for December 13 at the High Court in Glasgow.


    He is accused of raping a girl on occasions between 1990 and 1997 in Hawick when his alleged victim was aged between 12 and 19.



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    The 65-year-old faces further charges of indecent assault and lewd and libidinous practices.


    He has previously pleaded not guilty to all the charges.


    Pender was capped four times for Scotland in the late 1970s and played club rugby for Hawick. He also served as a LibDem councillor on Scottish Borders Council between 1998 and 2003.


    Article source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10454094/Unsettled-England-centre-Kyle-Eastmond-not-returning-to-rugby-league-insist-Bath.html


    Rugby star faces rape claims trial

    "It is special for Scotland to have established themselves so much"

    That was in 1954, some 33 years before the first rugby union World Cup, when rugby league staged its first tournament and the winners were a Great Britain side led by a Scot, Dave Valentine. Among his teammates was Dave Rose, a fellow Borderer who scored tries in both the key round-robin match and the final itself.


    While Valentine died almost four decades ago, Rose presented the Scotland team with their match jerseys ahead of their meeting with Italy earlier this month and was proudly showing off his winner’s medal before their quarter-final against New Zealand. It is, though, the third of them who is best known to the wider Scottish sporting community, largely because he played during the golden age of BBC-televised rugby league, when it was the centrepiece of Grandstand in the seventies.


    George Fairbairn – another Borderer, of course – arrived as a teenage prodigy at Kelso in the early 1970s, just after Andy Irvine had established himself in the Scotland team, at a time when Bruce Hay was also emerging. Their presence was a factor in his decision to play rugby league, but he had to overcome concerns generated by having witnessed sad scenes at Gala when – on a day he played in a winning sevens team there – one of their former players was refused entry to their clubhouse because he had “taken the money” and spent time playing the other code.


    Reassured that he would not be treated that way at his home club – he is delighted to report that it proved true – Fairbairn found his skills ideally suited to rugby league and never looked back in a career during which he shone for both Wigan and Hull Kingston Rovers.


    His mother having been born in Newcastle, he was dual-qualified so made his international debut for England at the 1975 World Cup. Two years later he made his Great Britain debut in the next staging – where he appeared in the final, one they lost agonisingly 13-12 to Australia’s Kangaroos.


    “It was in the balance right to the very end. I missed a kick late on that always gets mentioned, but I also missed a tackle early on which they scored from. No-one ever remembers that except me,” he recalls with characteristic honesty.


    Yet as Australia and New Zealand prepare to contest the latest Rugby League World Cup final at Old Trafford this afternoon, Fairbairn’s mind is not on wistful memories of what might have been but instead is focused on what might yet be. He has been a central figure in the creation of a Scotland team in his sport and, to that end, the past few weeks have brought enormous encouragement, albeit laced with frustration.


    The decision by rugby league authorities to pull the funding from the Scottish game just as it has achieved an unprecedented level of profile reflects a lack of vision that could ruin the opportunity that the sport as a whole has created for itself with its most successful international competition run.


    Fairbairn is speaking about Scotland, but could be spokesman for the entire rugby league community when he says: “It’s the best World Cup we’ve had and what we’ve got to do is follow up on it straightaway with what we’re going to do in the future. What’s happened is fresh in everybody’s mind but, if you let that lapse, people soon forget. It’s on everybody’s mind at the moment and everybody’s talking about it so we have to get into the right people and go from there.”


    Fairbairn never had the chance to play for what he views as his true homeland, so was all the more proud to be asked to coach the first Scotland team to contest the Emerging Nations World Cup in 1995. He managed the team thereafter and was at this World Cup as Scotland Rugby League’s ambassador.


    “It’s great for me to be involved with the lads now,” he says of the experience. “Coming through from where I first started playing and still being involved is great. The way the World Cup have organised it and the way Workington in particular accepted us was tremendous. It is very special for Scotland to have established themselves as much as they have. We’ve just got to continue now.”


    He draws upon the experience of old friends in expressing growing confidence for the future, despite the funding problems that are currently being addressed.


    “A lot of the lads from back home in Kelso came across for the games in Workington and, when they’ve seen how Scotland rugby league can play, it’s built on it even more,” he said. “You don’t know when you start something like this. You hope it’s going to kick off straightaway but at the back of your mind you know it’s probably going to take time and we know Scotland’s a rugby union country.”


    That will doubtless remain true for the foreseeable future in rugby terms. However, as genuine Scottish rugby lovers continue to battle in a football-dominated country for hearts and minds, they might be advised to keep their own open to providing greater opportunities for future generations to emulate Valentine, Rose and Fairbairn and experience occasions like the one taking place at Old Trafford today.


    Article source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10454094/Unsettled-England-centre-Kyle-Eastmond-not-returning-to-rugby-league-insist-Bath.html


    "It is special for Scotland to have established themselves so much"

    England wing Chris Ashton credits Saracens for his improvement

    Chris Ashton: Grateful to Saracens for support


    Chris Ashton: Grateful to Saracens for support


    England wing Chris Ashton believes he has improved as a player since joining current Aviva Premiership leaders Saracens.


    The 26-year-old was dropped by England head coach Stuart Lancaster for the Six Nations earlier in the year and was then left out of the British Irish Lions’ summer tour to Australia.


    Following injuries to Marland Yarde and Christian Wade, Ashton was back in action for England in the autumn internationals – and went on to snatch a try in the victory over Argentina.


    Reflecting on coming through the tough times, the former Northampton star said: “If it isn’t sometimes going right for you, you’ve got to be able to do every little thing well. That’s what the best players are good at.


    “Even if they’re not in a game they’re still doing the small things well, and getting those right, and that’s the bit I need to work on.


    “Saracens as a team do that very well, and they have definitely helped me personally with that in the time I’ve been here.


    “I kind of knew I was trying to force things during the Six Nations, not concentrating enough across the board.


    “The sudden end to the season, Stuart Lancaster saying have a rest, that was when I realised.


    “I was never anywhere near the Lions, and having to watch that, I think that was the point where I realised I had to improve points of my game. I feel a much better all-round player now.”


    Sarries will be heavy favourites when they play host to Sale at Allianz Park on Saturday.



    Article source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10454094/Unsettled-England-centre-Kyle-Eastmond-not-returning-to-rugby-league-insist-Bath.html


    England wing Chris Ashton credits Saracens for his improvement

    Door still open to English clubs

    The climbdown comes after the presidents of the French clubs, represented by Ligue Nationale de Rugby, agreed at a meeting at Orly Airport near Paris on Thursday afternoon to commit to the ERC-run format announced by the unions last week.


    Beyond 2014-15, however, LNR is seeking the introduction of an alternative competition overseen by a new body that will maximise the commercial interests of its clubs.


    Abandoning the breakaway Rugby Champions Cup and accepting the unions’ offer for next season will be viewed as a betrayal by Premiership Rugby and LNR’s insistence that English clubs are involved will offer little comfort.


    Premier Rugby has stated repeatedly that it will not work under the authority of ERC, but on Thursday night chief executive Mark McCafferty indicated it was willing to listen to the French proposal.


    “If somebody can outline what that transition would entail, how the issues would be overcome and exactly what the new structure in 2015-16 would be, then we could look at it,” McCafferty told Press Association Sport.


    “If we can see there is a new structure to replace ERC and we have the detail of that, then something might be feasible. At the moment it’s all very general and difficult to comment on.”


    LNR president Paul Goze assured Premiership Rugby that “French clubs can get involved in competitions run by the ERC in 2014-15 on condition that it will be staged with clubs from England.”


    How much faith can be placed in their loyalty is open to debate, however, as the Top 14 teams, under pressure from their union, have already broken ranks in a volte-face that ensures the Rugby Champions Cup is defunct without a detail having been published.


    And the clear absence of communication between Premiership Rugby and LNR – the former knew nothing of the latter’s intentions – hardly points to a strong relationship between the breakaway partners.


    Further muddying the waters is Premiership Rugby’s TV rights deal with BT Sport and although the terms of this concerning European competition are unknown, it is thought to preclude any involvement with ERC.


    Article source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10454094/Unsettled-England-centre-Kyle-Eastmond-not-returning-to-rugby-league-insist-Bath.html


    Door still open to English clubs