This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEDT = Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time which is 11 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)
This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEDT = Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time which is 11 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)
Colin Slade made a nervous start after being thrust into the spotlight as replacement for New Zealand's star fly half Dan Carter in the 79-15 win against Canada on Sunday, turning in an error-strewn performance before hobbling off injured.
With the All Blacks still reeling from news that Carter will miss the rest of the World Cup with a serious groin injury picked up at training on Saturday, Slade found himself promoted from understudy to New Zealand's main playmaker.
Slade, playing his 10th Test, received an early confidence boost when he set up New Zealand's first try in the sixth minute in Wellington, bursting through Canada's defence and floating a beautifully-weighted 20-metre pass to Zac Guildford, the winger scoring in the corner.
But things went downhill from there for the 23-year-old as he threw some sloppy passes as first receiver, one of which almost resulted in an intercept try.
Slade also had a forgettable match with the boot, missing three of seven conversion attempts and a penalty before he was moved to the wing early in the second half to make way for Piri Weepu at fly half.
While 54-Test veteran Weepu, who normally plays half-back, looked comfortable in the playmaker role, albeit against a wilting Canadian team, Slade's cameo on the wing lasted little more than 10 minutes before he hobbled off in the 64th minute.
Weepu slotted home all four of his conversion attempts, including a difficult sideline effort, as well as setting up the last of Guildford's four tries in the 77th minute and Vito's second shortly after.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has another fly half option in Aaron Cruden, who was called into the squad after Carter's injury.
Slade is seen as the more traditional fly half, with a solid kicking and defensive game, while Cruden, who has only six Test caps, possesses more attacking flair.
However, Henry indicated before the match that he may prefer a no-frills playmaker in Carter's absence, saying Slade and Cruden will need to "work within boundaries that are possible".
"If you've only been out there half a dozen times, it's not so intuitive, so you need to spend the time making sure the clarity's right, and maybe a wee bit more simple, so the menu's not too large it becomes overwhelming," Henry said.
Whether he believes Slade can offer that solidity after Sunday's display remains to be seen.
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand First posted October 02, 2011 22:04:54If John Key had any doubts about his prospects at New Zealand's election next month, an All Blacks win on Sunday should allay any fears.
Experts say a New Zealand victory in the Rugby World Cup final against France will translate into positive poll results for the prime minister.
Not that he needs it. Mr Key's National Party is already the odds on favourite to win the country's election on November 26.
Centrebet's Neil Evans says the All Blacks and the National Party are likely to romp it home.
"National are into $1.09, they're very short for John Key to win again and even out at $7 where we've got Labour parked at the moment, the punters don't want to turn up," he said.
"So I think the two hot favourites, the All Blacks and John Key's National government will do the double."
Dr Jennifer Curtin, a political scientist at the University of Auckland, says the World Cup result is likely to have an effect on the election.
"It may have a flip for the National Party who's in government, in the sense that if they are able to harness a win and attach themselves to the successful running of the cup, the hosting of it and the outcome more generally and people were feeling good about the result, then it may have a flip for them," she said.
"But if we lose, it's possible that our sense of depression as a nation might mean that there's some negative fallout for the National government."
Forty per cent of New Zealand's population follow the game and Dr Curtin says this 40 per cent are not just supporters, but are "rugby mad".
And as prime minister, Mr Key never shies away from using the All Blacks to get a bit of publicity.
"He's an excellent politician in the sense of being able to share the love and be seen with important people and the rugby players and former rugby players," she said.
"He doesn't really miss a photo opportunity in that sense and he's very good at being seen to be one of the people."
Mr Key would not be the first to benefit from a World Cup win. Nelson Mandela used the 1995 World Cup in South Africa as a way to unite the fractured nation which was emerging from the shadow of apartheid.
But it does not seem like France will get a look in when it comes to taking down the government and the All Blacks at their Eden Park fortress.
"France have done very little to make it. I think they're pretty average side who'll just try and spoil and spoil, and perhaps turn this into a real yawn-a-thon of a World Cup Final," Centrebet's Neil Evans said.
"But the class, the pressure, the quality is all with the All Blacks and really I cannot see an upset coming here at all."
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, world-politics, new-zealand First posted October 23, 2011 10:36:37New Zealand's relentless pressure and masterly forwards overwhelmed Australia in a brutal 20-6 semi-final win at Eden Park on Sunday to put the All Blacks in sight of a first World Cup triumph in 24 years.
The All Blacks will be overwhelming favourites when they return next weekend to play in a rematch of the inaugural 1987 World Cup final against France, also at Eden Park, which New Zealand won 29-9.
The Wallabies came off second best in the physical and tactical exchanges in the intimidating atmosphere of the All Blacks' Eden Park fortress, where they have not won since 1986.
The Tri Nations champions were bloodied and beaten in every aspect by a ferocious New Zealand onslaught, that saw the hosts dominate from the opening kick-off and fluster the Wallabies into a multitude of errors.
The dynamic New Zealanders ended a tense week of concerns over the fitness of captain Richie McCaw as they proved far too good for the Australians.
"It was awesome," McCaw said.
"We realised we were going to have to front up and be on the job for 80 minutes.
"The intensity was there. Every single man out there did their bit tonight and that's what you've got to do in knock-out rugby."
The Wallabies now have to console themselves with a bronze final with Wales on Friday - a repeat of the 1987 third place play-off.
"We didn't have enough possession," Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said.
"The All Blacks are a very good defensive side.
"Most sides would have leaked one or two (tries) but they didn't."
Not only did Australia lose on the scoreboard, but it had a lengthy injury toll with prop Sekope Kepu coming off with a facial injury after 21 minutes and Dan Vickerman and Pat McCabe going to the blood bin for running repairs.
It was another shaky night for Australia's scattergun playmaker Quade Cooper, who was guilty of many poor options much to the roaring approval of the 60,000 capacity Kiwi crowd.
The Wallabies' last win in New Zealand was 10 years ago and they have never beaten a Graham Henry-coached All Blacks side now in 11 encounters in the Shaky Isles.
The win was especially sweet for Henry after he survived calls to be sacked and replaced by Kiwi Deans following the All Blacks' quarter-final defeat by France four years ago - their worst World Cup showing.
"They were fabulous, weren't they?" Henry said of his side.
"They showed huge character. From minute to minute they gave 100 (per cent), they gave everything, they were just outstanding."
Henry, asked what was behind the victory, replied: "Four years of planning, I suppose. Four years of guys being frustrated and wanting to do the job, four years of trying to get things right."
Early try
It all went horribly wrong from kick-off, Cooper sending his kick sailing over the sideline to put the Wallabies under immediate pressure as the All Blacks ripped in.
New Zealand had all the ball in the opening six minutes before Israel Dagg sliced past Anthony Fainga'a and Rocky Elsom to send Ma'a Nonu storming over for the only try of the game to a mighty roar.
Wallabies flanker David Pocock was penalised for two ruck infringements in as many minutes, with scrum half Piri Weepu kicking the All Blacks eight points ahead.
But Australia, which saw star full-back Kurtley Beale ruled out on Saturday with a hamstring injury, gradually clawed its way back and winger Digby Ioane was held up near the try-line before McCaw conceded a penalty kicked by James O'Connor.
Cooper spilled a high kick before novice fly half Aaron Cruden settled his nerves with a 22nd minute drop-goal to extend the All Blacks' lead to 11-3.
The crowd roared their approval as Cooper continued to misfire and after 28 minutes of pressure the Wallabies had missed 15 tackles compared to the home side's eight.
Cooper tried to get back on track with a calmly-taken drop goal to have the Australians trailing 11-6 after 32 minutes.
But Adam Ashley-Cooper was caught in an offside position from an All Blacks high kick, giving Weepu the chance to kick the penalty for a 14-6 half-time lead.
Australia again began the restart poorly and McCabe was penalised for not releasing, giving Weepu an easy penalty for a 17-6 lead.
Weepu sealed victory with his fourth penalty eight minutes from time for a 14-point lead.
New Zealand's Sonny Bill Williams only lasted three minutes after coming on as a replacement before he was yellow carded for a shoulder charge on Cooper.
New Zealand: 20 (M Nonu try; P Weepu 4 penalty goals, A Cruden drop goal)
Australia: 6 (J O'Connor penalty goal, Q Cooper drop goal)
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, australia First posted October 16, 2011 20:49:57A "shattered" Rob Andrew admits he should have given England manager Martin Johnson more support, but insists he will not be resigning after a shambolic World Cup campaign.
England's campaign was dominated by off-field scandals and lacklustre on-field performances and it fell short of its stated goal of a semi-final spot with a quarter-final defeat by France.
Ultimately, this all led to Johnson's resignation last week and saw England attack coach Brian Smith quit as well, increasing the pressure on Andrew, elite performance director at the governing Rugby Football Union (RFU).
Leaked reports into England's performance in New Zealand published in the The Times newspaper painted a damning portrait of a divided squad obsessed with financial gain.
But the leaks also showed how the England management had lost control of a squad where the drinking exploits of players, including senior figures such as Mike Tindall, caused unwanted headlines.
Andrew, who helped appoint Johnson in 2008 despite the latter's lack of any previous coaching experience, told the BBC on Thursday: "The reality of my job is that I'm not the England team manager. I'm the elite rugby director and I run a big department.
"But I absolutely accept responsibility for what is going on here.
"The players have let themselves down, the coaches have maybe not done as good a job as they should, I've not done as good a job as I should have done.
"I should have supported Martin more.
"Does it mean I'm going to resign? No, I'm not. Does it mean it's all broken? No it doesn't.
"I'm absolutely shattered by what's going both on and off the field at the moment," Andrew added.
"This is rock bottom, this is the lowest of the low."
Before the World Cup, the RFU saw chief executive John Steele forced out over a botched attempt to hire a new performance director.
Clive Woodward, England's 2003 World Cup-winning coach, was strongly linked with the still unfilled post and the ensuing furore after Steele's exit also led Martyn Thomas, who will step down as acting chief executive next month, to quit as RFU chairman.
Johnson's resignation means Andrew, who has headed the performance department since 2006, has seen three England coaches come and ago - Andy Robinson and Brian Ashton are the other two - during his time at Twickenham.
Smith, whose contract expired in December, was slated in a report based upon anonymous interviews given by England squad members to the Rugby Players' Association.
One player accused Smith of copying moves at the World Cup from rugby minnow Romania.
"When you start copying Romanian moves, you know you are in trouble," the unnamed player said.
Earlier, the RFU said there would be no verdict published on Tindall's appeal against a 25,000 pound fine for his boozy night out during the World Cup.
Tindall, 33, was fined and dropped from the England squad earlier this month after an RFU investigation into a players' night out in the New Zealand resort town of Queenstown during the World Cup.
Leaked security footage showed Tindall, recently married to Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter Zara Phillips, being kissed on the head by a woman but the point that really angered England was that the Gloucester back initially misled them about his movements on the night in question.
Several reports have suggested Stuart Lancaster, coach of the reserve team England Saxons, could succeed Johnson in a caretaker capacity.
That would give the RFU breathing space to find a new, permanent, coach with the defence of its Six Nations title just 10 weeks away.
AFP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, rugby-union-world-cup, england, united-kingdom First posted November 25, 2011 11:46:22England World Cup centre Manu Tuilagi was detained by New Zealand police after jumping off a ferry as it was about to berth on the Auckland waterfront.
The 20-year-old Samoan-born player, who has been fined 3,000 pounds by the Rugby Football Union, jumped off the ferry, which was carrying other team-mates, as it arrived from Waiheke Island and was preparing to dock on Sunday evening.
A police spokeswoman said he was formally warned about the offence of disorderly behaviour, and then released to the England team management.
"I'm really sorry. It was a silly thing to do and I apologise to everybody for any inconvenience caused," Tuilagi said.
Warren Fowler, the general manager of the ferry company, said the antic was dangerous and that there could have been serious consequences.
"It could have been tragic with vessels coming in here and someone jumping off the back of a vessel when it is going to be reversing shortly," Fowler told The New Zealand Herald.
England was knocked out of the World Cup by France in the quarter-finals on Saturday, losing 19-12.
Tuilagi had already been in hot water at the tournament when he was fined $7,500 for wearing an illegal mouthguard bearing a sponsor's name.
England's campaign in New Zealand was dogged by off-field problems.
Three players were forced to apologise to a female hotel employee for harassment while Mike Tindall - married to the granddaughter of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II - admitted he had misled officials about his night with a mystery woman, later said to be an "old friend" by those close to the England centre.
Tindall initially said he was only in one bar with the woman until photo evidence emerged showing them in a second bar where they "behaved like a smooching teenage couple," according to media reports.
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, england, united-kingdom, new-zealand First posted October 10, 2011 11:43:41The All Blacks say captain Richie McCaw will play in Sunday's Rugby World Cup semi-final against Australia despite the injured right foot which has been troubling him all year.
New Zealand has been in a flap over reports the inspirational flanker was not training with his team-mates, amid fears he would join injured star fly half Dan Carter on the sidelines for the crunch game in Auckland.
The appearance of specialist openside flanker Matt Todd at training on Wednesday sparked rumours all was not well with the indispensable McCaw, but assistant coach Steve Hansen dispelled fears.
"I can guess what the first question is, so I'm going to answer it for you: Richie McCaw's foot is fine," Hansen said at the start of Thursday's press conference.
"Matt Todd is training with us as you all know and have written about. Todd's part of a wider training group and trained with us in Christchurch as did other players down there.
"Matt Todd is in Auckland and it just made commonsense to have him here.
"That's not to say that Richie's foot is worse than it was, it doesn't mean that Richie's not playing on Sunday, it means that Matt Todd was in Auckland and we wanted him to use him for training as opposition.
"So, hopefully that puts that away and we talk about the game."
Jitters over the state of McCaw's health have become a national preoccupation in rugby-obsessed New Zealand this week, as home fans will the All Blacks to win the World Cup for the first time since they lifted the trophy when the country staged the inaugural 1987 edition.
McCaw had surgery for a stress fracture in his right foot in February and missed the first two months of the Super 15 season.
The problem flared again recently with the loose forward on a restricted training workload.
But Hansen said although the 101-cap openside flanker was in pain, he would play this weekend.
"Richie didn't train last week on the pitch and he probably won't train on the pitch until (Saturday's) captain's run and he'll do very little," Hansen said.
"I don't think it will (affect his game), he played pretty well last week.
"It was a tough game last week for loose forwards against Argentina."
Hansen said international players regularly played with injuries and this was no different with McCaw.
"Our loose forwards have got niggles, but I would suggest the other three sides have all had niggles, that's what tournament rugby is all about," he said.
"Richie's obviously reasonably sore in the foot, but he's still able to play.
"I just don't see him (McCaw) being ruled out, but, hypothetically, if he was it would be disappointing but we get on with it."
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand First posted October 13, 2011 09:00:19All Blacks star Dan Carter has undergone surgery following his World Cup-ending groin injury, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) said in a statement on Friday.
In an NZRU statement Carter said the surgery, which he had in Melbourne on Monday before returning to Auckland on Wednesday to repair his left adductor longus tendon had "gone well".
The fly half, whom many New Zealand fans considered central to their team's hopes of winning the World Cup, was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after suffering his injury during kicking practice on the eve of the All Blacks' final pool match against Canada.
Test rugby's all-time leading points scorer, with 1,250 from 85 matches, the 29-year-old Carter will now embark on a rehabilitation programme the NZRU said would "involve re-establishing normal walking with strengthening exercises, with a view to progressing onto running and kicking over an eight-week period".
The NZRU statement added Carter hoped to be "fully recovered" by about the 12-week mark.
New Zealand's World Cup campaign has been beset by injury problems, with Carter's stand-in, Colin Slade, also being ruled out of the tournament with a groin problem suffered during its quarter-final win over Argentina.
That has left third-choice Aaron Cruden in the pivotal fly half position for this weekend's semi-final against Australia at Eden Park.
But the good news for New Zealand fans desperate to see the team win only its second World Cup title since the country staged the inaugural 1987 edition was that captain and Richie McCaw was named in coach Graham Henry's team to play the Wallabies here on Friday, even though the inspirational flanker has been nursing a longstanding foot problem throughout the tournament.
Carter, speaking earlier this month, before his operation but after his dreams of World Cup glory were dashed following his role in New Zealand's failed campaigns of 2003 and 2007, insisted he had no history of groin trouble.
"After kicking a ball it just popped and I went down on the ground in agony," Carter, widely acclaimed as the world's best fly half, said.
"Just the pure randomness of the injury and for it to come out of the blue, my body was really good leading into the week and it was good all week and I haven't had any groin or abductor or hip problems in the past.
"So for something like this to happen is really tough. I can't put my finger on why and I'm constantly asking why did this happen and I don't have the answer."
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand First posted October 14, 2011 09:44:12The "jackal at the tackle" has become common parlance at the Rugby World Cup, but it has never been better personified than in the shape of Wallabies flanker David Pocock.
The 23-year-old, who moved to Australia from his native Zimbabwe as a teenager, produced a stunning display in the Wallabies' 11-9 quarter-final victory over South Africa on Sunday.
He put in 26 tackles but more importantly continued to forge his trade in forcing turnovers at the breakdown.
In the absence of Springbok 'fetcher' Heinrich Brussow, who went off injured after 20 minutes, Pocock totally dominated the breakdown to help set up a semi-final against trans-Tasman rival New Zealand next weekend.
Coach Robbie Deans labelled Pocock's performance as the best individual display of the 2011 tournament.
"Immense. David Pocock's game was remarkable," he said.
"And it was bigger than he got credit for.
"He's clearly a huge influence in any game he plays in and we'd clearer be poorer for his absence.
"The world is blessed with some very good snafflers at the moment and no doubt people will be looking forward to next week, to that end," he said of Pocock's likely duel with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
Pocock has amassed 37 caps in the three years since making his debut, but was back on the field on Sunday for his first full game since missing the Wallabies' shock 15-6 pool loss to Ireland.
"We were very confident and clear what we wanted to do," Pocock said.
"But they pinned us in our half for long periods of the game.
"Because we were defending for so long there were great opportunities at the breakdown.
"Losing Brussow was definitely a blow for them," Pocock admitted.
"He's a quality player and he puts a lot of pressure on the breakdown."
Deans acknowledged that New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence's 'anything goes' approach to the breakdown had helped Pocock's game.
"I think both sides were hard done by. It was a hotly contested area so maybe it evened out, maybe it was fair," he said.
Springboks flanker Schalk Burger called Pocock a "fantastic player".
"Getting him back is a massive boost for Australia," Burger said.
"You know that if he gets the opportunity he will turn over possession.
"Any team knows that if it dominates the breakdown it will go well in the game and Pocock is one of the best openside flankers in the world."
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, australia First posted October 10, 2011 11:59:09There have been darker days in Australian rugby but surely few quite as raw and painful as Sunday's World Cup semi-final loss to New Zealand.
The young and exciting Australian side were completely out-muscled, out-enthused and out-thought by their fiercest rivals - the All Blacks prevailing 20-6, with the final score line still flattering the Australians.
It was Australia's heaviest defeat in any World Cup match since the first tournament in 1987, and a brutal lesson for the confident current crop, many of who had tasted success with this year's Super Rugby and Tri Nations titles, but were left without any excuses after the limitations of their game was exposed.
"They deserved to win, we were outplayed by a better side today," Australia captain James Horwill said.
"Everyone's pretty disappointed. You can hear a pin drop in the dressing room. It's a tough pill to swallow.
"They were very good at the tackle area and they put a lot of pressure on us there and got some good turnovers and we needed to be better there and they were very good in that part of the game.
"They were very clinical in what they did."
To their credit, the Australians fought to the end but never looked like winning. Once again, they struggled in the scrum, the weakest part of their game, but were also beaten in areas they normally dominate.
Their kicking game was poor in comparison to the All Blacks. Their back three, badly missing injured full-back Kurtley Beale, spilled a handful of high balls and their celebrated backline could not find a way past the impenetrable New Zealand defence.
Right from the kick-off, which erratic Australia playmaker Quade Cooper booted into touch, the Wallabies were under pressure and it was to their credit they restricted the All Blacks to just one try in the match, scored by centre Ma'a Nonu in the sixth minute.
"They made it difficult all night for us to create any momentum," Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said.
"We felt that the game wasn't out of reach at half-time, clearly we hadn't had enough possession to be able to build pressure and play and in the second half we didn't get much as well.
"We changed our approach after half-time but we just weren't able to generate enough momentum and that inhibited our attack.
"As they became more successful our blokes became more apprehensive so we lost some fluency as well."
"It was a tough night for all the boys. No-one enjoys coming second, they came here to win and we weren't successful."
Horwill praised his team for their efforts and said they would be better for the experience.
The Wallabies overcame a shock loss to Ireland in the pool phase to beat South Africa in a nail-biting quarter-final last weekend before falling to a team that will go into the final as overwhelming favourites against France.
"It wasn't a lack of effort from the group - we were beaten fair and square by a better side," Horwill said.
"I think we learnt from things we didn't do well. That experience against Ireland, we learnt from that. The disappointment is still pretty raw but the guys never stopped giving and offering themselves up."
Deans lamented the hamstring injury that forced Wallaby full-back Kurtley Beale out of the semi-final.
"We know how capable Kurtley is, he's our player of the year and among the top five IRB (International Rugby Board) players of the year, so it would have been nice to have him, but we didn't," he said.
AFP/Reuters
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, australia First posted October 17, 2011 08:05:19The All Blacks have made three changes in their side and included injured skipper Richie McCaw for this weekend's World Cup semi-final against Australia at Eden Park.
New Zealand also named Aaron Cruden at fly half, Israel Dagg at full-back and Richard Kahui returns to the wing.
Cruden is the All Blacks' third fly half of the World Cup after tournament-ending groin injuries to Dan Carter and Colin Slade.
Dagg returns from injury to replace injured Mils Muliaina at full-back, while Kahui ousts Sonny Bill Williams on the left wing.
McCaw has not trained this week as he rests his injured foot to enable him to take part in Sunday's big match against the Wallabies.
"Richie hasn't trained this week and the more we keep him off his foot the more chance of him playing 80 minutes for us this weekend," coach Graham Henry said.
"He's upbeat but frustrated and we have to make pragmatic decisions with it. Richie's not pushing it so he can play this weekend."
McCaw's presence is vital for the All Blacks who are already without their match-winning fly half Carter.
"The guys are quieter than normal," Henry said. "This is the biggest game these guys have played for 10 years."
The All Blacks have lost two of their last three encounters with the Wallabies, including the Tri Nations decider in Brisbane.
But the Wallabies have not won at the All Blacks' citadel at Eden Park for 25 years.
"Australia is a big brother to us in many ways, but it's a positive relationship and it brings the best out of New Zealanders," Henry said.
"We know them and they know us well and there's a lot of rivalry."
In other changes on the bench, Andy Ellis and Stephen Donald come in and Sonny Bill Williams was named as the third back replacement in a four-three split.
New Zealand squad: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Richard Kahui, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Victor Vito, Andy Ellis, Stephen Donald, Sonny Bill Williams.
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, australia First posted October 14, 2011 07:08:28Australia beat defending champion South Africa 11-9 in a gripping Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Wellington on Sunday afternoon.
Under the cosh for nearly the entirety of the second half, the Wallabies saw their 8-3 half-time lead whittled down and overtaken by the boot of Morne Steyn, before a late penalty to James O'Connor regained the lead on 71 minutes.
An early try to captain James Horwill seemed as good as it would get for Australia as South Africa threw everything at the Wallabies to batter their defensive line and play for the mistakes.
Steyn duly obliged with a penalty 15 minutes into the half before slotting over a drop goal to give South Africa the lead for the first time in the match.
The Wallabies were thankful for a big referee call which went their way when Jean De Villiers burst through to break past his man before flinging it wide to Patrick Lambie who sprinted over to score.
But De Villiers' pass was ruled forward in a debatable let-off for a besieged Australian defence.
That defence kept up its superb display of soaking up relentless pressure when, after James O'Connor slotted home his penalty in a rare outing forward to lead 11-9, the forwards held off numerous Springbok attacks for the remaining 10 minutes.
Desperate for a mistake to go against South Africa, it came 10 seconds from time from a Steyn knock on, allowing Will Genia to kick for touch from the scrum to seal the win.
Horwill lauded his side's tenacity under constant onslaught.
"It was a huge effort from the boys. We started the way we wanted to but we knew South Africa are such a good side and they were going to come back," he said.
"We had some real issues there in the second half clearing our ball and they put us under a lot of pressure.
"I'm really really proud of the way boys fought and dug in. That was a huge effort and took everything. I'm just stoked.
"We knew that we had to stick in and that defence wins these big games and we had to trust that and our discipline was pretty good for most of the time.
"There were times when we let go of the ball too easily and we'll look at that and work on it for next week."
Australia will meet New Zealand in the semi-final next Sunday in Auckland after the All Blacks beat the Pumas 33-10 in the day's other knock-out encounter.
But that date was far from certain throughout the second stanza as star fly half Quade Cooper had a shocker with the boot, while the normally reliable Genia looked rattled under the attentions of the Springbok forwards.
Forced to rush his kicks, Cooper shanked his clearances a number of times to heap more pressure on his side, while also having his restart from the 22 inexplicably charged down.
South Africa dominated the match territorially while also winning 14 of the game's 21 line-outs thanks to master poacher Victor Matfield.
But it was better news for Australia at the breakdown as Pat McCabe - named in the squad after being under a fitness cloud - made a nuisance of himself to steal the ball just as the Springboks were looking dangerous.
The one time a kick did come off for Cooper, it was a terrific touch-finder deep into South African territory early in the first half which the Wallabies pounced on to score the match's only try.
Schalk Burger ran at the forwards from his try-line but was met with a fierce tackle, before McCabe combined expertly with Horwill who dived over to score.
O'Connor missed the conversion but made up for it with a successful penalty soon after.
South Africa looked to rally with a five-metre scrum but Australia's defence held strong, squeezing the ball out of the ruck on its own try-line to clear the danger.
There were worrying signs when Sekope Kepu rolled over with a shoulder injury and when Stephen Moore overthrew his line-out straight to the on-rushing Fourie du Preez.
Morne Steyn managed to get his side on the board with a late penalty before missing a late attempt from beyond 50 metres on the touchline.
The match also capped off the end of a number of Springbok careers, with a host of players set for retirement as South Africa looks to rebuild the national squad creaking over from its world title four years ago.
Australia: 11 (J Horwill try; J O Connor 2 pens)
South Africa: 9 (M Steyn 2 pens, drop goal)
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, south-africa, australia First posted October 09, 2011 17:48:28This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEDT = Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time which is 11 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)
New Zealand winger Cory Jane was accused of "letting himself down" by the All Blacks' team manager after a reported "booze binge" just 72 hours before a World Cup quarter-final against Argentina.
Jane, however, remains in the team to face the Pumas at Eden Park but was told he had "better play a blinder" by New Zealand team manager Darren Shand.
New Zealand's Herald on Sunday, which carried the story under the front page headline "Cory's Booze Binge", reported Jane and injured team-mate Israel Dagg were at the Mac's Brewbar in the Auckland suburb of Takapuna on Thursday.
The two backs were, according to anonymous patrons quoted by the paper, swaying and slurring their words, with witnesses adding Jane had lit a cigarette in contravention of a law banning smoking in pubs.
Shand told the Herald on Sunday he was particularly unhappy with the pair's behaviour given the All Blacks were, as well as Dagg, also without injured outside backs Zac Guildford and Richard Kahui for the knockout clash against Argentina.
"That's what's most disappointing," Shand said. "That guys would do this in a week that we are affected by injury.
"It's not what we expect in this team, particularly not in players who are playing this week.
"This is it for us, do or die. Lose and we're out."
Shand, who said Jane and Dagg had been disciplined "according to team protocols," added New Zealand had not imposed alcohol or smoking bans on players.
"We don't have any policy on smoking or drinking, we just expect them to make good decisions," Shand explained.
"Clearly, there is enough evidence from both sides to say they have let themselves down.
"Cory had better play a blinder."
Jane and Dagg are not the first players at this World Cup to have created unwanted headlines following a night out drinking.
England's Mike Tindall, newly married to Zara Phillips, granddaughter of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, was filmed being kissed on the head by an woman later identified as "old friend" in a bar in the South Island resort of Queenstown.
Tindall denied accusations he had taken the woman to a second bar but the centre had to back-track when photos emerged of the extended raucous night out.
England, minus Tindall, who had a leg injury, were knocked out of the World Cup after a 19-12 quarter-final defeat by France on Saturday.
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand First posted October 09, 2011 11:16:07Wallabies number eight Wycliff Palu is returning home from the World Cup after scans revealed a tournament-ending hamstring injury.
Palu had scans of the hamstring injury he injured in Australia's 67-5 defeat of the United States in Wellington last Friday, as did lock Dan Vickerman and full-back Kurtley Beale.
Beale will not take on Russia this weekend in an effort to be ready for a possible quarter-final the following weekend.
Coach Robbie Deans said he will not be calling for an immediate replacement for Palu from Australia, with Scott Higginbotham in line for a run in the Wallabies' final group match against Russia in Nelson on Saturday.
"It's pretty disappointing, it was good to get an opportunity and I've just got to move on from here," Palu said in Hanmer Springs on Tuesday.
"I've done this hammy (hamstring) so many times and when I first did it I had a feeling that I would probably be on a plane back home, but the scans confirmed it yesterday.
"You've got to keep moving forward, just got to keep going and I feel there's still plenty of rugby ahead of me, so I just have to aim for that."
Palu is expected to require six weeks of rehabilitation before he would be fit to be considered for selection again, which would rule him out of selection for the remainder of the tournament.
"I've just got to go back home and do what I've been doing and try to get the body right and take my time with it," he said.
Palu said he had been frustrated by hamstring injuries this season.
"It's bad luck for Wycliff. Unfortunately his previous history of injury in this area has impacted, in terms of lengthening the timelines that are required for his rehabilitation," Deans said.
While Palu will be replaced in Australia's 30-man squad, Deans said the selectors will be taking their time with that decision, and may even delay any call until after the match against Russia so they can determine the team's specific needs.
Higginbotham said he had recovered from a back injury suffered in training last week.
"It's come good and I had a little slip-up last week but I had an epidural a day afterwards and I'm feeling good now, ready to train," he said.
"One of the most disappointing things was to miss out on a starting cap (against United States), but that was the first game I've missed this year."
The Wallabies' wounded also included Pat McCabe (shoulder), Anthony Fainga'a (head) and Rob Horne (cheek) in the wake of the US win.
Fainga'a, who went down for several minutes on the full-time siren and was stretchered off in a neck brace, has been following IRB concussion protocols and "could be available for Australia's next match", the team said in a statement.
McCabe and Horne will stay with the squad although they will not take on Russia - McCabe is tipped for a potential semi-final return should the Wallabies qualify while Horne will run with the squad in training on Tuesday afternoon.
The Wallabies said star winger Digby Ioane was also on the mend and on track for a return to the action in the quarter-finals.
On Monday flanker David Pocock was declared fit to face Russia while winger James O'Connor and captain James Horwill (shoulder) should all return against the Bears.
ABC/AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, australia First posted September 27, 2011 08:32:48Wallabies centurion Nathan Sharpe will finish his career in Australia, saying he has no intention of chasing the big bucks on offer overseas.
Sharpe, who played his 100th Test for Australia in the World Cup bronze-medal match against Wales last month, will be the most-capped player in the 26-man squad leaving on Saturday for the spring tour matches against the Barbarians at Twickenham and Wales at Millennium Stadium.
The 33-year-old lock has already signed up with the Western Force and Australian Rugby Union for next year and will not rule out going again in 2013.
Unlike some of his contemporaries, including Matt Giteau and Luke Burgess, Sharpe is not looking to play overseas.
"I've looked at it in previous years, but I think that the way things are panning out, I'm pretty comfortable with my transition from rugby to where I'm going in the next stage of my life," he said.
"That's just a time issue for me so it makes sense for me to stay in Australia.
"Going overseas and chasing some money for a year or two probably doesn't interest me at this stage.
"I'll definitely finish up here in Australia. It just depends on when that's going to be.
"I'll have a look at it next year and make a decision then."
The evergreen Force captain also has no intention of voluntarily pulling the plug on an international career that started nine years ago.
"If you've signed with Australian rugby and you play Super Rugby, you're obliged to play international rugby if you get picked, so I'm signed for next year," Sharpe said.
AAP
Tags: rugby-union, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia First posted November 19, 2011 10:21:29This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
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Captain James Horwill says the Wallabies are hopeful Kurtley Beale will be fit to face New Zealand in the World Cup semi-finals, despite not training on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old full-back, one of Australia's main attacking threats, aggravated a hamstring injury during the quarter-final against South Africa last weekend and faces a race to be fit for Sunday's Eden Park clash.
"We're still optimistic, he's working really hard on his rehab, he's doing everything he can to be there," Horwill said.
"He wasn't there today so we had to put someone else in that position."
James O'Connor is most likely to move over from the wing to replace Beale in the number 15 jersey, but Horwill spoke only in generalities to the media on Wednesday about there being plenty of depth in the squad.
Horwill said inside centre Pat McCabe, who came off the pitch against the Springboks with a shoulder injury, trained "fully" on Wednesday.
Prop Sekope Kepu, who turned his ankle in last weekend's bruising encounter, did not train but Horwill says there is optimism he, too, will be fit enough to be named in the squad on Friday.
Reuters
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, australia First posted October 12, 2011 11:45:34This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
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All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu revealed Sunday he was facing the prospect of a second kidney transplant amid fears a donated organ he received in 2004 was failing.
The 36-year-old said he was undergoing daily dialysis after being admitted to Auckland Hospital's renal unit earlier this month when an illness he initially thought was a cold escalated into a life-threatening condition.
Lomu said he was preparing to attend a function earlier this month when "it just went pear shaped", leaving him hot, cold and shivering.
"I crashed," he told the New Zealand Women's Weekly magazine, in an exclusive interview for which he is believed to have received an undisclosed fee.
"My kidney was failing and my body had become so toxic it started to shut down."
Lomu's wife Nadene said the couple were awaiting the results of tests to find out if he needed another kidney transplant.
"They've said there's a very slim chance this kidney may survive," she said.
"So for now Jonah's having dialysis every day and a load of other treatments to see if it can be revived."
Lomu was diagnosed in 1995 with the rare kidney disorder nephrotic syndrome and underwent a transplant in 2004, receiving an organ donated by New Zealand radio announcer Grant Kereama.
The former player, regarded as rugby union's first global superstar, has been based in France in recent times but returned to New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup, where he played a part in the opening ceremony on September 9.
He said he still hoped to attend the final at Auckland's Eden Park on October 23.
"My kidney needs a rest, then it needs to wake up and start working," he said. "It needs to fight."
Lomu rose to prominence with his devastating wing play in the 1995 World Cup and also played a major part in New Zealand's 1999 campaign. He still holds the record for most tries at the Rugby World Cup, with 15 five-pointers.
However, his illness eventually cut short his playing career.
Since he was admitted to hospital on September 23, the giant winger has received emotional messages of support from the current All Blacks' squad and prime minister John Key.
New Zealand players and support staff gathered after team training last week to hold up letters reading "Get Well Jonah - Kia Kaha (Be Strong)", with hooker Keven Mealamu saying Lomu had helped shape the All Blacks' ethos.
"It's sad to see a man like that the way he is at the moment, so we're really hoping for him to get well quickly," Mealamu told reporters.
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand First posted October 02, 2011 09:17:18World Cup-winning All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is to undergo surgery on his injured foot and will definitely miss the early Super Rugby rounds next year.
McCaw was troubled throughout this year by a screw inserted in his right foot during surgery on a stress fracture and did not take a full part in training during the World Cup to avoid aggravating the injury.
Following the All Blacks' cliff-hanger 8-7 win over France in the final last month, the 30-year-old flanker has had a scan on the foot and seen a specialist.
Team doctor Deb Robinson said it has been decided to remove the screw.
"While the initial stress fracture in his foot has partially healed, the scan revealed that there is an area of bone stress around the screw," Robinson said.
"The best option for him is to have surgery to have the screw removed. He will also have some bone grafting done and then his foot will be left alone to heal."
The All Blacks talisman will have the operation later this month and Robinson said no timeline had been set for his return to rugby.
"Following the surgery, Richie will be in plaster for two weeks and then a moonboot for a month," she said.
"After around 10 to 12 weeks he will be able to start running and then will gradually return to rugby training."
Todd Blackadder, the coach of McCaw's Crusaders side has resigned himself to starting the next Super Rugby season without his captain and his other star, fly half Dan Carter, who suffered a groin injury in the World Cup.
While Carter's injury was unforeseen, Blackadder said McCaw should probably not have played in the tournament at all.
"He was lucky they didn't X-ray him because it will probably have confirmed he shouldn't have been," he said.
McCaw, who became the first All Black to play 100 Tests in the 37-17 World Cup pool victory over France, missed the first two months of the Super 15 tournament this year after having the screw inserted in his foot.
AFP
Tags: rugby-union, sport, new-zealand First posted November 04, 2011 13:54:41This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
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A 17,000-seat temporary stadium will host rugby union matches, including an All Blacks v Ireland Test, in earthquake-hit Christchurch next year, Prime Minister John Key said.
Key said the venue was an interim replacement for Christchurch's AMI Stadium, which was severely damaged when a powerful quake devastated New Zealand's second largest city last February, killing 181 people.
He said the $20 million stadium, to be built just outside the city centre at Rugby League Park, would be completed by March next year and provided a home venue for the Crusaders Super Rugby team.
Key said it would also allow Christchurch to host an All Blacks v Ireland Test in June, after the city missed out on holding matches during the recent Rugby World Cup because of its extensive earthquake damage.
"Cantabrians have had to endure so much over the past 14 months, with the series of earthquakes meaning they missed out on hosting any Rugby World Cup matches and all of the Crusaders' and Canterbury ITM Cup home games this year," he said.
Canterbury Rugby Football Union chief executive Hamish Riach said that bringing rugby back to Christchurch was a major step in "reclaiming our city" after a tough year.
"We know that rugby has played an important part in helping people to rebuild and put their lives together," he said.
AMI Stadium, which before the quake was slated to host seven World Cup games including two quarter-finals, will remain closed until at least the end of next year as engineers assess whether it can be saved.
The temporary stadium is expected to have a lifespan of three to five years.
AFP
Tags: rugby-union, sport, super-14, new-zealand First posted November 08, 2011 11:58:17This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
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Uncapped players Ben Tapuai, Ben Lucas and Dave Dennis have been included in the Wallabies squad for the two-match rugby union tour to Britain.
Queensland Reds backs Tapuai and Lucas and New South Wales Waratahs loose forward Dennis join Western Force prop Pek Cowan as the only members of the 26-man touring party to come from outside the squad used at the recent Rugby World Cup.
Nine World Cup players were unavailable for the tour, which features a clash with the Barbarains at Twickenham on November 26 and a Test against Wales at Millennium Stadium on December 3.
Kurtley Beale (hamstring), Drew Mitchell (hamstring), Pat McCabe (shoulder), Quade Cooper (knee), Wycliff Palu (hamstring), Rocky Elsom (hamstring), Dan Vickerman (shoulder), Sekope Kepu (eye) and Luke Burgess (French rugby) were all unavailable.
Of the newcomers, Dennis went on the 2009 Spring Tour but did not play a Test and he was also a member of the initial 40-man squad for this year's domestic campaign.
"He was probably unlucky in the first instance not to make that World Cup squad, but he gets his opportunity now," Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said.
"Then we've got the two Bens. Ben Tapuai, who earned the right off the back of his Super Rugby experience and played very well on the Gold Coast for the Australian Barbarians against Canada.
"Ben Lucas is obviously a very versatile player. There's an opening at number nine, which is where most of Benny's background is and with Luke Burgess going to play his rugby offshore, his versatility will be handy."
Cowan was a member of the victorious Australian Tri Nations squad, playing the most recent of his four Tests off the bench during the 39-20 win over South Africa in Sydney in July.
Deans indicated young utility star James O'Connor would get a bigger role closer to the action due to the absences of Cooper and McCabe.
"When you are looking at the players that we are taking, it's very likely he (O'Connor) will get the opportunity to step up and accept some of the greater responsibility that comes directing the game," Deans said.
Dean said he was not concerned the Wallabies could struggle for motivation so soon after the World Cup, in the aftermath of their semi-final loss to New Zealand and ultimate third placing.
"It's a great opportunity for this group," Deans said.
"We've already been through the emotional ride of disappointment of not being able to beat New Zealand (in the World Cup semi-final) and having to get up four nights later (against Wales in the bronze medal match).
"But the boys did that well and showed the pride that they have representing their country and this is another opportunity which is important to them."
Wallabies squad: Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Pekahou Cowan, Dave Dennis, Anthony Faingaa, Will Genia, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Rob Horne, James Horwill (c), Digby Ioane, Ben Lucas, Salesi Ma'afu, Ben McCalman, Stephen Moore, James O'Connor, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota Nau, Radike Samo, Nathan Sharpe, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Ben Tapuai, Lachie Turner
AAP
Tags: rugby-union, sport, australia First posted November 07, 2011 10:01:23French rugby fans may have to tweak traditional chants of 'Allez Les Bleus' at Eden Park on Sunday after their team manager, in a magnanimous gesture towards New Zealand, opted to play in white to allow their World Cup final opponent to wear the traditional black.
France won the toss for the final but team manager Jo Maser opted not to ruffle the All Blacks' feathers, though the decision raised a few eyebrows within the team, which has taken a pummelling from local media.
In a match between the two sides at the 2007 World Cup, France won the toss and decided to play in blue, forcing New Zealand to wear grey shirts.
France won the quarter-final 20-18 before being knocked out by England in the semi-finals.
"That's Jo Maso's elegance," France coach Marc Lievremont said.
"Some players regret it and they would have wanted to deprive them of their preferred colour.
"But we will keep the same spirit whether we play in blue or white.
"We could have played in pink or purple, it would have been France v New Zealand just the same."
Hooker William Servat said he would rather Maso had made New Zealand change.
"I would have preferred to play in blue, that's for sure. These are the colours of my country," Servat said.
France has been heavily criticised by the local media, the latest punch coming from The New Zealand Herald.
In a column, former All Blacks forward Wayne Shelford wrote that New Zealand should "beware French skullduggery" such as eye-gouging.
"Maybe we would have preferred to play in blue after the digs they have been making at us," flanker Julien Bonnaire said.
Reuters
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, france First posted October 21, 2011 22:04:52Peter de Villiers called it quits as South Africa coach after the reigning champions lost their World Cup quarter-final to Australia.
"It was a brilliant journey," said de Villiers, who took over from Jake White following the Springboks' 2007 World Cup win.
"There's a time to come and a time to go and I think the journey for me is over," he added following South Africa's 11-9 loss to the Wallabies, that saw the 'curse of the champions' strike again, with no team yet to win back-to-back World Cup titles.
Turning his gaze on assembled journalists, de Villiers, who has been much maligned for some of his selection policies and public gaffes, added: "It's something you guys can't take away from me.
"It was incredible, and I'm proud to have been in a position to make a contribution to my country."
When South Africa captain John Smit, retiring from international rugby as a player, was asked to say a few words about de Villiers, his coach jumped in and joked: "It's not a funeral, eh!"
Smit said the Springbok squad had enjoyed life under De Villiers.
"We've had a really good four years together. That's been pioneered by Peter," he said. "Even the bad days are good.
"He has given us leeway and space and tightened that space when we took advantage of it.
"I'm disappointed to end it like this."
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans added: "Peter de Villiers is a quality man, I've enjoyed the interactions I've had with him."
Talk now, think later
The 54-year-old De Villiers became a likeable but rather enigmatic figure in world rugby, often better known for bizarre utterances and actions rather than tactical master strokes.
De Villiers placed a lot of faith in the 2007 Cup-winning squad, choosing 18 of the 30 and 11 of those were in the squad that lost 11-9 to Australia.
'Div' upset many with his talk-now-think-later approach which peaked when South Africa flanker Schalk Burger eye gouged British and Irish Lion Luke Fitzgerald.
The incident at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria two years ago overshadowed a last-minute, series-sealing triumph for the green and gold, and triggered global fury.
Instead of offering sympathy to the injured Irish wing, de Villiers defended Burger and committed one of the worst gaffes of an often troubled four-year reign.
"Why don't we go down to the nearest ballet shop, get some tutus and get a dancing shop going?," de Villiers said.
His public support last year for Bees Roux after the Bulls prop was arrested for the alleged murder of a Pretoria policeman also severely embarrassed rugby officials.
The 54-year-old native of Western Cape wheat town Malmesbury was a controversial choice as successor to White.
South African Rugby Union boss Oregan Hoskins admitted rugby was not the only factor considered before de Villiers became the first black Springboks coach as the country tried to overcome the racial inequalities of the apartheid era.
Critics pointed to his inexperience - two seasons at Currie Cup minnows Valke (Falcons) and a spell in charge of a national age-limit team.
A poor first Test season brought only two wins in six Tri Nations outings, but 2009 produced a dramatic improvement.
Victory in New Zealand sealed top place in the southern hemisphere championship and the large cherry on top was revenge for a 1997 series loss to the British and Irish Lions.
De Villiers failed to maintain the momentum, though, and 2010 was an 'annus horribilis' with five Tri Nations losses, including home defeats by New Zealand and Australia.
Apart from a dismal win-loss record, de Villiers has not delivered on promises to get the Springboks playing more expansively and speeding up transformation to increase the number of non-white players in the team.
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, south-africa First posted October 10, 2011 08:30:53Melbourne Rebels will focus on improving their shaky defence as they bid to climb off the bottom of the Super Rugby table, making former Wallabies defence guru John Muggleton their senior assistant coach.
Muggleton's desire to become a Super Rugby coach moved a step closer on Friday as the Rebels announced their coaching structure under new head coach Damien Hill, who has taken over from Rod Macqueen.
While defence will be a key area, Muggleton, who was appointed in September, will take on extra duties as Hill's number two.
Earlier this week forwards coach Mark Bakewell resigned to take up a position with Sydney club Easts, with former Wallabies forward Matt Cockbain promoted from his coaching role with the Rebels' reserve side.
Former Wallabies centre Nathan Grey will remain on board as an assistant coach.
Muggleton recently wound up his commitments with Georgia at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
He has also coached at New South Wales, and spent two years in Wales with Llanelli Scarlets.
Muggleton spent 10 years with the Wallabies as defence coach, part of the set-up that won four Bledisloe Cups, two Tri Nations titles and the 1999 World Cup, where the Wallabies conceded only one try throughout the tournament.
Hill says Muggleton's experience will be important as the Rebels looked to improve in their second season in the competition.
Melbourne conceded 74 tries in its maiden campaign, while the next worst in the Super competition was the Lions, with 49.
"John Muggleton is a highly regarded coach and is recognised worldwide for his expertise in the area of defence," Hill said.
"This is one of several aspects of our game that we need to improve and we believe that John will be a tremendous asset to us."
After a bye in the opening round, the Rebels will start their season against the Waratahs on March 2.
AAP
Tags: super-14, rugby-union, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia First posted October 21, 2011 16:28:34Full-back Zane Kirchner has been called into the Springbok Rugby World Cup squad as a replacement for injured Frans Steyn, team officials said on Sunday.
Kirchner, 27, will join the squad in Wellington on Tuesday in preparation for Sunday's quarter-final against likely opponent Australia.
Steyn injured his left shoulder in the final few minutes of the Springboks' 13-5 victory over Samoa at North Harbour on Friday and will return home for surgery.
"I am bitterly disappointed," Steyn said.
"I don't know how the injury happened - it was at a ruck when I was cleaning someone out late in the game.
"I was enjoying our campaign and the tournament and to have it ended like this is very disappointing.
"I'd just like to wish the squad all the best for the rest of the tournament."
Steyn, who plays French club rugby with Racing Metro, scored tries in each of the Springboks' first three matches in the tournament as well as adding two long-range penalties for 21 points in his second World Cup tournament.
Four years ago Steyn became the youngest player to win a Rugby World Cup winners' medal as a 20-year-old in South Africa's victory in France.
Blue Bulls' Kirchner has 14 Springboks caps with the last of them coming against England in November.
Kirchner was a member of the Springboks' World Cup preliminary squad but missed out on initial selection for the Tri-Nations tournament because of injury.
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, south-africa First posted October 02, 2011 12:12:54Quade Cooper suffered a knee injury as the Wallabies ended their ill-fated World Cup with a fighting 21-18 victory over Wales to take third place in the tournament at Eden Park on Friday.
The erratic fly half, who has been under intense scrutiny and regularly booed while playing in his native New Zealand, collapsed to the ground in agony while running the ball inside the Welsh quarter in the 22nd minute.
Cooper, who had played every minute of Australia's previous six games at the tournament, clutched his right knee and replays showed he had suffered a hyper-extension while changing direction.
The Wallaby fly half was led from the ground, his tournament over, but this time to a backdrop of respectful applause from the crowd.
Cooper later went up to the presentation dais with his team-mates on crutches to receive a bronze medal in a poignant ending to his eventful tournament.
Australia coach Robbie Deans said in the absence of a full medical diagnosis, he suspected Cooper had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, an injury which can require up to nine months' rehabilitation.
"Having experienced it myself and witnessed the event I suspect it's a ruptured ACL," Deans said.
"Quade is aware that it's a significant injury but with technology these days he'll come back good to go, you actually end up with a stronger ACL post-operation these days than prior, so he'll be back in Super Rugby (early next year).
"That whole experience, that adversity will challenge him, but I've got no doubt he'll come out of that stronger for it."
The Australians, digging deep in defence and a man-of-the-match performance from Berrick Barnes, who filled in for Cooper at fly half, suffered a high attrition rate in their final outing at the tournament.
Full-back Kurtley Beale re-aggravated a hamstring injury which had kept him out of last weekend's 20-6 semi-final loss to the All Blacks and lasted just nine minutes against Wales.
"Kurtley had a recurrence of his hamstring strain, so strain on strain is not ideal, but I don't think it was excessively bad, I don't think he tore it (hamstring) but obviously it didn't cope well in the game," Deans said.
Meanwhile Nathan Sharpe's 100th Test was curtailed after 46 minutes, the veteran lock having soldiered on gamely with knee trouble suffered in a heavy line-out fall early on.
Scrum half Will Genia and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau were other Wallaby casualties, while captain James Horwill was replaced in the final 10 minutes.
"It was pretty torrid with a high attrition rate and the boys showed their momentum by the way they stuck at their task," Deans said.
Horwill said team pride and a determination to give Sharpe a winning 100th Test match were behind the victory.
"It means a lot to us to pull on that jersey and to play not only for each other, but we wanted to make Sharpie's night a memorable one for the right reasons and so that was a big factor as well," Horwill said.
Deans said he expected some fans would be frustrated by the Wallabies' troubled World Cup campaign, which saw them suffer a shock pool defeat by Ireland before being well-beaten 20-6 last weekend by an All Blacks side they had defeated to take the Tri Nations title.
"There will be elements who will be frustrated as we are, that we didn't achieve more, our sentiments are identical," Deans said.
"Internally, I'm proud with the way these blokes stuck to the task, particularly this week.
"They showed not only what it meant to them, but also there's a lot of valuable substance in this group that you will see more of over the next few years."
AFP
Tags: sport, rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, new-zealand, wales, australia First posted October 22, 2011 08:27:17NRL defector Sonny Bill Williams has admitted he will make a beeline for the television to watch the New Zealand Warriors in the grand final after playing for the All Blacks against Canada.
Williams played five seasons with the Bulldogs and won seven Test caps for the Kiwis before joining French Top 14 club Toulon in 2008 and returning to club rugby in his homeland two years later.
"Hopefully the boys can get up," he said of the Warriors, who play Manly in Sunday's decider.
"It was really exciting last week," he said of the Warriors' shock semi-final win over Melbourne Storm, directly after the All Blacks had beaten France 37-17.
"We were all in the sheds and the French boys came in after and didn't know what we were screaming about. We had the telly on straight away.
"The Warriors shocked a few people last week how well they played.
"Their forwards are playing unbelievable at the moment, just smacking them, great defence.
"Hopefully I'll get off the pitch straight away and chuck that telly on so I can watch not just the Warriors, but the juniors as well."
Williams was adamant, however, that there was no jealousy or pining to be playing the game he grew up with.
"Never jealous bro, just happy for them," the 26-year-old said.
"It's a massive occasion for them and they'll be pretty excited. Hopefully they'll come away with the goods.
"Coming across from league to rugby, I've noticed how big rugby is on a world stage, on a world scale.
"League's just big in New Zealand and Australia. Obviously rugby is a much bigger game, but when you're involved in something like the NRL final it's massive."
Williams, whose smart off-loads and running lines are the features of his game, will start at centre against Canada on Sunday, admitting that he was pleased with the way his World Cup had gone.
"I'm excited to be here and happy to be given another chance," he said.
"I started against Tonga and now Canada. I've just got to take my opportunities.
"I've always got belief in my abilities and I've been happy with the way I've played, so I've just got to continue that form and play well so the coaches have to pick me."
Williams' versatility has been key to his success, the league second rower being utilised on the wing as well as centre.
"You've got to do your homework. It's been tough, but a good tough, it's a step out of my comfort zone," he said of being picked in different positions.
"I've adapted pretty well and it's good to know I can cover the wing so I can put my hand up for that role as well.
"I'm just trying to improve every week," he said, adding that any old league habits had now died.
"A couple of times when I first started, I got up from tackle and ran back 10 metres but that's probably about it. It's pretty instinctive these days."
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-league, nrl, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, manly-2095, nsw, australia First posted September 30, 2011 11:07:01David Pocock's leadership credentials have been endorsed with the inspirational backrower named to captain the Wallabies for the first time in Saturday's clash against the Barbarians at Twickenham.
With regular captain James Horwill named on the bench to freshen him up for next week's Test against Wales, Pocock was chosen as Australia's fourth skipper this year.
The Wallabies have a youthful three-man leadership group of Horwill (aged 26), Pocock (23) and Genia (23), with the half-back having captained Australia during the World Cup in Horwill's and Pocock's absence.
Youngster James O'Connor was thrown into the hotseat at No.10 due to Quade Cooper's injury-enforced absence in a reshuffled backline for Australia's first match since last month's World Cup.
O'Connor has played five-eighth for the Western Force but is still on a steep learning curve at the highest level.
Berrick Barnes was named at inside centre, the seasoned playmaker on hand to assist O'Connor in his kicking duties against a vastly-experienced Barbarians line-up.
The invitational team has more than 1,000 Test caps between them and the match will act as South African line-out master Victor Matfield's farewell.
Rugby league star Sam Tomkins has been named on the wing for his rugby union debut this Saturday opposite Australia's line-busting Digby Ioane.
NSW flyer Lachie Turner has been named on the other wing for his first international since coming off the bench in Australia's 59-16 win over France in Paris 12 months ago.
Queensland Reds centre Ben Tapuai completes his memorable year by being named for his Wallabies debut off the bench.
The 22-year-old made the most of his chances late in Queensland's surge to the Super Rugby title this season and impressed the Wallabies brains trust playing for the Australian Barbarians against Canada.
Uncapped backrower Dave Dennis makes his second appearance for the Wallabies, having played a midweek match on the 2009 spring tour.
Radike Samo, who played in all of Australia's World Cup matches, missed selection.
The match does not count as a full international.
Australia:
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lachie Turner, Rob Horne, Berrick Barnes, Digby Ioane, James O'Connor, Will Genia, Ben McCalman, David Pocock (capt), Scott Higginbotham, Nathan Sharpe, Rob Simmons, Salesi Ma'afu, Tatafu Polota Nau, James Slipper. Res: Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Dave Dennis, Matt Hodgson, Nick Phipps, Ben Tapuai.
AAP
Tags: rugby-union, sport, australia First posted November 24, 2011 22:33:46Mike Tindall's England career is in tatters after the centre was thrown out of the country's elite player squad and handed a hefty fine following his off-field antics at the World Cup.
Photographs of the 33-year-old drinking with a "mystery blonde" in a bar in Queenstown less than two months after he married into the British royal family filled the British newspapers while England struggled on the pitch in New Zealand.
Tindall has been fined 25,000 pounds by the Rugby Football Union, which he is appealing.
"Mike Tindall's actions reached a level of misconduct that was unacceptable in a senior England player and amounted to a very serious breach of the EPS (Elite Player Squad) code of conduct," Rugby Football Union director Rob Andrew said in a statement.
"Whilst we acknowledge his previous good character, it needs to be made clear that what he did will not be tolerated."
A series of unwanted front-page headlines accompanied England's flat performances at this year's World Cup before its quarter-final stage exit, with Tindall the highest-profile offender.
The Rugby Players' Association (RPA) released a statement saying Tindall, whose wife Zara is the Queen's grand-daughter, will be appealing his fine.
"Mike will be appealing this unprecedented fine as per the terms of the EPS agreement," it said.
"There will be no further comment from Mike Tindall or the RPA at this time."
Suspended fines of 5,000 pounds were also been handed out to winger Chris Ashton and forward James Haskell, until December 31 2012, relating to a separate incident.
Forward Dylan Hartley has been cleared of any involvement in that episode.
"It should be stressed that the allegations of very serious wrongdoing made against Chris Ashton, Dylan Hartley and James Haskell by Annabel Newton, a member of staff at the team hotel, were entirely false," Andrew said.
"We do not believe the players had any intention to sexually harass or intimidate Ms Newton."
The suspended fines were imposed on Ashton and Haskell for breaching the squad's code of conduct.
While those players can continue their England careers, Tindall's removal from the squad means he is unlikely to add to his 75 caps.
Tindall was a member of England's 2003 World Cup winning team, playing in the 20-17 victory over Australia in the final.
Another member of that side, fly half Jonny Wilkinson, has had little sympathy with his team-mates following the infamous drinking session in Queenstown, where players were photographed looking the worse for wear during "Mad Midget Weekender".
"What I cannot understand is the naivety of people going out to the extent that they did and it not crossing their minds it would find its way back to the media," he wrote in his autobiography "Jonny", which was published on Thursday.
"What is required is individual responsibility and not Johnno (manager Martin Johnson) at his wit's end," added Wilkinson, known for his dedication to abstinence and training.
Reuters
Tags: sport, rugby-union, rugby-union-world-cup, england, united-kingdom First posted November 12, 2011 10:33:55Australia kicking coach Braam van Straaten has rejected suggestions the Rugby World Cup match ball is to blame for kicking woes at the tournament, declaring it "the best ball I've ever kicked".
Wayward goalkicking has been a talking point at the World Cup, with the focus falling on the "Virtuo" match ball that English manufacturer Gilbert created for the event.
All Black superboot Dan Carter said before he suffered a tournament-ending injury that unfamiliarity with the ball was the reason his kicking success rate had slumped to 67 per cent at the World Cup, compared to 75 in the Tri Nations.
England kicker Jonnie Wilkinson, meanwhile, has a success rate of less than 50 per cent, well below his normal standard.
But former Springbok international van Straaten, who was involved in testing the ball for Gilbert at its South African launch, said there was nothing wrong with it.
"There's no problem with the ball, it's the best ball I've ever kicked," he said Thursday ahead of this weekend's World Cup quarter-finals.
"The ball travels really true, there's nothing wrong with it so I'm looking forward to seeing how it's going to go on the weekend," added van Straaten, who in his 21 Tests for the Springboks from 1999 to 2001 scored 221 points, including 23 conversions and 55 penalty goals.
"Hats off to Gilbert. It's a really, really good quality ball, nice and heavy, the flight is true and I think it all comes down to technique."
The ball is billed as having "innovative valve and bladder designs that will deliver superior shape retention and spin rate".
Australia faces van Straaten's native South Africa, the defending champion, in a quarter-final at the Wellington Regional Stadium on Sunday.
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, australia First posted October 06, 2011 23:14:14This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEDT = Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time which is 11 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)
The depleted Wallabies, still haunted by their Irish nightmare, heaved a sigh of relief on Friday as they completed training unscathed before their World Cup match against Russia.
Injuries are the biggest concern for the Australians, who have strung together a makeshift side in what should still be an easy victory to get into the quarter-finals.
Big back rower Radike Samo is on the wing and there are two hookers and two scrum-halves on the replacements bench to reach a full complement of 22 players.
Despite being upset by Ireland in their second match, the Wallabies should comfortably roll the inexperienced Russians to qualify for the sudden-death rounds, but captain James Horwill said they were taking nothing for granted.
"This is a huge match we must win to go forward in this competition," he said.
"When you put in a performance that individually and as a group you're not proud of, it sucks and you don't want that to happen again."
If Ireland beats Italy in the final Pool C match it will leave Austalia as the second qualifier from the group and a likely match up with Tri-Nations rival South Africa.
But a cruel run of injuries has denied coach Robbie Deans the chance to bed in his top XV before then.
In the backs, in addition to Samo on the wing, he has Berrick Barnes inside Adam Ashley-Cooper as his latest midfield combination, an area where he would ideally like a settled partnership.
There is also a new-look loose trio with openside specialist David Pocock returning from injury and teaming up with Ben McCalman at the back and Scott Higginbotham, who has an opportunity to oust Rocky Elsom in the number six jersey.
"Obviously, the injuries we've got are not ideal but that's the reality of playing contact sport and I have full faith in everyone pulling on the jersey," Horwill said.
"The combinations might be a little bit different but the whole idea of what we want to do is the same."
Horwill was relieved to complete training without further injury and was praying for the same result in the game after losing five players in their last match against the United States.
But the written-off Russians have warned they will not be there just to make up the numbers and will take a hard, physical approach.
"We will not appear on the pitch just to watch the Wallabies play but will try to demonstrate what we are capable of as well," prop Ivan Prishchepenko said.
"This game can be a step forward on our way to progress."
The Russian forwards have proved powerful and their backs have shown an ability to score tries from a set piece and hooker Vladimar Korshunov, who also returns as the team's captain, said they wanted to stamp their mark.
"We need to feel free when we play Australia, spend more time on attack with no complex in front of the Wallabies," he said.
"Having about 10 attacks in each of the previous two games we have scored two or three tries. When the ball belongs to us we should not give it back easily."
AFP
Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, australia First posted September 30, 2011 14:48:40