Jonathan Joseph returns to bolster the England midfield in the critical Pool A match against Australia on Saturday, one of three changes to the side that lost to Wales last weekend. Despite speculation that he would play no further part in the pool stages, the Bath centre has shrugged off …
Read More »Wallabies ‘A’ side to face England
Michael Cheika has reverted to the identical starting lineup that faced Fiji for the massive Pool A match against England on Saturday. If Australia defeat England, it could spell curtains for the host side, having lost to Wales in dramatic fashion on the weekend. The Wallabies, meanwhile, enjoyed a cozy …
Read More »No Russell for Scots against Springboks
Duncan Weir will start in the no10 shirt for Scotland against the Springboks on Saturday. Finn Russell misses out, still recovering from an ankle injury suffered against the USA on Sunday, one of a handful of first choice players left out of the run-on side. Gordon Reid and Fraser Brown …
Read More »du Preez to lead Boks against Scotland
Fourie du Preez will lead the Springboks for the first time in a test match, taking over the captaincy from Jean de Villiers after the centre was forced to drop out of the tournament with a broken jaw. Heyneke Meyer has made only three changes from the side that beat …
Read More »Lelos ready to take on All Blacks
Milton Haig has named a much-changed Georgian side to play the All Blacks on Friday, opting to rest some first choice players but in doing so fielding the most experienced Lelo side ever in test rugby. Captain Mamuka Gorgodze is the only starting forward remaining from the disappointing 54-9 loss …
Read More »All Blacks named to face Georgia
The All Blacks will roll out their big guns to face Georgia in Cardiff on Friday. After playing a reserve side against Namibia, Steve Hansen has reverted to virtually the same lineup that he selected for the Argentina match, with four exceptions – one enforced. Four players – Liam Messam, …
Read More »Injury list deepens at World Cup
Two weeks in and the casualties are mounting in the World Cup. More than half of the teams (11 in total) have been forced to replace at least one player, three more if you count players who were originally named in the 31-man squad but were forced to withdraw before …
Read More »Tonga defeat Namibia in Exeter
Tonga came away winners over Namibia by a 35-21 score in a very entertaining match at Sandy Park in Exeter on Tuesday. The Tongans outscored their opponents by five tries to two, but some wayward kicking and discipline issues kept the Namibians in the match. Telusa Veainu was a late …
Read More »Canada change seven for France test
Kieran Crowley has chopped and changed his lineup to face France on Thursday, with seven switches in total from the team that ran Italy desperately close at Elland Road. Canada will need to manage their resources with another game on the horizon against Romania on Tuesday. Aaron Carpenter and Brett …
Read More »First choice France to face Canada
France have retained only two of the starting side that faced Romania, reverting to their first strength team for the match against Canada at Milton Keynes on Thursday. Only Wesley Fofana and Brice Dulin continue, as Philippe Saint-André opts not to take any chances against a team that gave Italy …
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