3:21 AM BST The first two Tests of the Bledisloe Cup are behind us, with New Zealand holding a 1-0 advantage following Sunday’s comprehensive 27-7 victory at Eden Park in Auckland. That result came seven days after the series opener had finished in a dramatic 16-all draw in Wellington, where the two teams engaged in
Rugby
2:48 PM BST Wasps’ participation in the Gallagher Premiership final is in doubt after the club returned four more positive COVID-19 tests on Monday, bringing a total of 11 positive tests for the club within a week. Wasps are not training as a group ahead of Saturday’s final, after seven positive tests were returned last
7:11 AM BST All Blacks coach Ian Foster will need to wait until later in the week before he is fully aware of who will be on the plane to Sydney on Sunday for the Rugby Championship with a number of injuries to assess. Prop Joe Moody, midfield back Peter Umaga-Jensen and lock Sam Whitelock
6:22 AM BST All Blacks coach Ian Foster says he isn’t worried about Caleb Clarke coping with the Jonah Lomu comparisons coming his way after the rookie winger bulldozed through the Wallabies on Sunday. Clarke was the standout performer in New Zealand’s 27-7 victory, the winger opening up some flimsy Australian defence on a number
7:49 AM BST We knew the All Blacks’ response would come. But it was inspired by perhaps an unlikely source as winger Caleb Clarke announced himself on the world stage with a brilliant tackle-shredding display New Zealand’s 27-7 win over the Wallabies on Sunday. The 20-point victory — which extended New Zealand’s unbeaten streak at
2:15 AM BST ESPN staff The world champion Springboks have officially withdrawn from the Rugby Championship, leaving just Australia, New Zealand and Argentina to challenge for the 2020 title. SANZAAR, the tournament organisers, announced on Friday that South Africa would not travel to Australia due to several factors including South African government travel restrictions, player
3:06 AM BST Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has responded to claims from the All Blacks that Australia got away with illegal “off-the-ball” tackles in the opening Bledisloe Cup clash, saying his side had instead dealt with some concerns of their own through the correct channels. Rennie admitted to being surprised by comments from All Blacks
11:46 PM BST ESPN staff Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has pulled a selection shock for the second Bledisloe Cup clash in Auckland, handing NSW Waratahs forward Ned Hanigan his first Test start since 2018. Hanigan is joined in the starting side by Reds hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, the duo replacing Brumbies Pete Samu and Folau Fainga’a
11:39 PM BST ESPN staff All Blacks coach Ian Foster has made five changes to his starting side for the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland, two of which see Rieko Ioane and Codie Taylor demoted to the bench. But star playmaker Beauden Barrett returns at fullback, having been a late scratching through injury last
10:29 AM BST Wasps’ preparations for the English Premiership final suffered a setback after seven members of the club’s playing staff returned positive tests for coronavirus on Wednesday. Four players and three support staff tested positive for coronavirus and Wasps have cancelled training for the remainder of this week as an added precautionary measure. “All