The Rugby Championship

Rodrigo still locked in at age of 38

9 September 2018 0 comments

WHEN it comes to winning titles in Europe at an age when most players have run out of stamina, nobody does it better than Uruguay’s […]

All change but Kiwis still pound the Pumas

9 September 2018 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER NEW Zealand ruthlessly took their chances to outscore the Pumas six tries to three in a match that was much tighter than […]

Hooper delight as Aussies break duck

9 September 2018 0 comments

By GARY FITGERALD Relief: Will Genia, Tom Robertson and try-scorer Matt Toomua celebrate their tight win PICTURE: Getty Images MICHAEL Hooper was a relieved man […]

Michael Cheika needs to bridge the gap to the All Blacks, says ARU chief

28 August 2018 0 comments

“I don’t think it’s about changing what we’ve got, it’s about what can we bring”

Aussies floored by the Beauden show

26 August 2018 0 comments

■ By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Unstoppable: Beauden Barrett runs away to score the All Blacks’ third try PICTURES: Getty Images BEAUDEN BARRETT confirmed himself as the […]

Playing in centre needs to carry a warning

26 August 2018 2 comments

THERE is much concerned debate in New Zealand at present regarding centre being the most dangerous position in the world. At varous times in the […]

No wonder Ashton saw the red mist

26 August 2018 1 comment

Provocation: Kockott “Provocation is not a defence to foul play…” read part of Richard Whittam QC’s verdict on Chris Ashton on Thursday night when Ashton […]

Poland have the athletes to become world class

26 August 2018 4 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points RUGBY MATTERS Man mountain: Gregory Kacala in action for Brive I CAN’T say I […]

Barrett has too much class for Wallabies

19 August 2018 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD Command performance: Beauden Barrett dives over for the All Blacks PICTURES: Getty Images BEAUDEN Barrett produced another breathtaking fly-half display to give […]

We had to dominate up front says Read

19 August 2018 0 comments

KIERAN Read claimed the All Blacks ferocious set-piece was the key to regaining the Bledisloe Cup. The outstanding No.8 and his fellow forwards laid the […]

De Klerk gets Boks rolling in second half rout

19 August 2018 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER SOUTH Africa, with Sale’s Faf de Klerk at the helm, turned up the wick after the break with four second half tries […]

Erasmus critical of sub-par display

19 August 2018 1 comment

SPRINGBOKS coach Rassie Erasmus was in surprisingly downbeat mood after what appeared to be a decent start to South Africa’s campaign. Erasmus said: “The only […]

Rugby Championship: All Blacks looking for fifth title in six years

17 August 2018 0 comments

New Zealand take on the Wallabies tomorrow morning in Sydney

Rugby Championship: Australia seek to shore up scrum while blooding in new caps

16 August 2018 0 comments

Continuing our team profiles ahead of the 2018 Rugby Championship, we look at the Wallabies

Read and Retallick back for the All Blacks, as Australia turn to Hodge to fill midfield problem

16 August 2018 0 comments

Sam Whitelock will earn his 100th Test cap for New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup clash

Rugby Championship: A look at the Springboks

15 August 2018 0 comments

Is it still a matter of rebuilding under Rassie Erasmus for South Africa?

Rugby Championship: Argentina team profile

14 August 2018 0 comments

Who else is on the Ledesma hype train?

Mario must stop this Pumas freefall

12 August 2018 1 comment

BRENDAN GALLAGHER runs his eye over the Rugby Championship contenders ahead of next weekend’s big kick-off Big job on: Argentina coach Mario Ledesma THE Rugby […]

Resurgent Wallabies end the Bledisloe barren spell

22 October 2017 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER AUSTRALIA’S steady improvement this season continued apace in Brisbane yesterday with a thoroughly deserved Bledisloe Cup win over a lacklustre New Zealand, […]

What ever happened to that war on gouging?

22 October 2017 0 comments

Sven Cronk knows how it feels to be poked in the eye as the innocent victim of a gouging offence like no other during 20 […]

Billy’s back to mend the bridges

22 October 2017 0 comments

A BERLINWall occasion takes place in Cardiff next Friday evening. More than 60 years after leaving Union for League during the long cold war between […]

Gripping? New kit strangles wallets

22 October 2017 0 comments

WALES heralded the advent of their Autumn series with another gripping yarn over the ‘match-winning’ quality of their new kit. Official communiqués, released whenever a […]

Why didn’t someone tell Webb he’d lose Wales slot?

22 October 2017 0 comments

SOMETHING about the Rhys Webb affair doesn’t add up. The player claims he knew nothing of the new 60- cap rule when he signed for […]

Born-again Boks push All Blacks to the very edge

8 October 2017 1 comment

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER SOUTH Africa lost a Test match but won back their self-respect in a barnstorming game that showcased the Rugby Championship at its […]

Jantjies shoots wide to leave it all square again

1 October 2017 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER South Africa ……27pts Tries: Dreyer 17, Serfontein 42, Skosan 48 Conversions: Jantjies 18, 43, 50 Penalties: Jantjies 25 Australia…………..27pts Tries: Folau 10 […]

TEAM: Cheika hands starting debuts to young trio for Springboks clash

28 September 2017 0 comments

By Adam Ellis Australia head coach Michael Cheika has backed flanker Jack Dempsey to pack a punch in the Wallabies back row when they take […]

EXCLUSIVE: Springbok legend Habana ready for last hurrah

20 September 2017 0 comments

South Africa try scoring legend Bryan Habana has given his broadest hint yet that this season will be the last of his illustrious career. Currently […]

Wounded Wallabies storm home for first win

17 September 2017 1 comment

By SAM JACKSON Australia 45pts Tries: Folau 29, 53, Kepu 49, Genia 72, Phipps 76, Uelese 80 Conversions: Foley 30, 50, 55, 73, 77, 80 […]

All Blacks put sorry Boks to the sword

17 September 2017 0 comments

New Zealand 57pts Tries: Ioane 17, Milner-Skudder 21, 53, S Barrett 34, Retallick 37, Tu’ungafasi 64, Sopoaga 74, Taylor 80 Conversions: Barrett 18, 22, 36, […]

All Blacks hit back after Pumas scare

10 September 2017 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER NEW ZEALAND were given a major fright for the best part of an hour in New Plymouth before a flurry of tries […]

Wasteful Wallabies let Boks off the hook

10 September 2017 2 comments

By SAM JACKSON AUSTRALIA coach Michael Cheika rued the inability of his Wallabies to close out matches after they surrendered a big lead for a […]

Brilliance of Barrett settles epic as Australia find pride

27 August 2017 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER NEW Zealand and a rejuvenated Australia said farewell to Colin Meads by serving up one of the great modern day Test matches […]

Springboks maintain their revival to cage Pumas hit by Lavanini’s red card

27 August 2017 0 comments

By NICK VERDIER SOUTH Africa made it five from five in Salta as Argentina saw red in the second round of the Rugby Championship last […]

Wallabies smashed for six in first half blitzkrieg

20 August 2017 1 comment

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER NEW ZEALAND dismissed Australia from their presence with a remarkable six-try first half burst in Sydney which left you appreciating just how […]

Yes, it looks like something is really starting to happen for Coetzee’s Springboks

20 August 2017 1 comment

By NICK VERDIER SOUTHAfrica did not have it all their own way like they did against France in the June Test series and they showed […]

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

20 August 2017 1 comment

CHRISTIAN LOADER FORMER WALES, SWANSEA, PONTYPRIDD, ROTHERHAM AND BATH PROP Believe it or not, I started out as a full-back at my local club, Crwnant […]

ARGENTINA

13 August 2017 0 comments

FIXTURES: August 19 v South Africa (Port Elizabeth); August 26 v South Africa (Salta); September 9 v New Zealand (New Plymouth); September 16 v Australia […]

AUSTRALIA

13 August 2017 1 comment

FIXTURES: August 19 v New Zealand (Sydney); August 26 v New Zealand (Dunedin); September 9 v South Africa (Perth); September 16 v Argentina (Canberra); September […]

Will All Blacks be fresh to go again?

13 August 2017 1 comment

BRENDAN GALLAGHER runs his expert eye over the Rugby Championship contenders ahead of next weekend’s big kick-off New Zealand have lost only two of their […]

NEW ZEALAND

13 August 2017 0 comments

FIXTURES: August 19 v Australia (Sydney); August 26 v v Australia (Dunedin); September 9 v Argentina (New Plymouth); September 16 v South Africa (North Harbour); […]

SOUTH AFRICA

13 August 2017 0 comments

FIXTURES: August 19 v Argentina (Port Elizabeth); August 26 v Argentina (Salta); September 9 v Australia (Perth): September 16 v New Zealand (North Harbour, Auckland); […]

Hooper cited for incident in Wallabies’ win over Argentina

26 July 2015 1 comment

Australia openside alleged to have struck opponent in the lead-up to Dean Mumm’s superb try

Springboks change eight for New Zealand clash

22 July 2015 1 comment

Heyneke Meyer has made eight changes for South Africa’s match against the All Blacks this weekend. Of the three changes to the starting XV, only […]

Boks made to sweat on Coetzee and Matfield as injury list mounts

20 July 2015 0 comments

The defeated Springboks are waiting on injuries to Marcell Coetzee and Victor Matfield ahead of their clash with New Zealand on Saturday. The two influential […]

Brendan Gallagher’s Team of the 2014 Rugby Championship

24 October 2014 1 comment

15 Joaquin Tuculet (Argentina) The exciting new Puma nudges it from Israel Folau who, although good, wasn’t quite the force of nature he was in […]

New Zealand v Argentina preview

4 September 2014 0 comments

As expected, Beauden Barrett will start at fly-half for New Zealand on Saturday as they take on Argentina in the third round of the Rugby […]

Australia v South Africa preview

3 September 2014 1 comment

Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley will lead Australia’s attack on Saturday as they take on South Africa for the third round of the Rugby Championship. […]