3:22 PM BST Franco Mostert has been one of the Springboks’ unsung heroes in 2018, and South Africa may end up missing his ability in the lineout and his workrate against England on Saturday. But his absence may have freed coach Rassie Erasmus to pick his best loose-forward combination. Erasmus selected different combos in the
Rugby
12:36 PM BST Luke Morgan is to make his first Wales start in the opening match of the autumn internationals against Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday. Winger Morgan is Wales Seven’s all-time leading scorer and starts alongside international regulars George North and Leigh Halfpenny in the back three. Cardiff fly-half Gareth Anscombe starts in the
11:30 AM BST Alec Hepburn will make his first England start in the opening match of the autumn internationals against South Africa on Saturday. Hepburn starts at No.1 in an inexperienced, injury-hit forward pack that also includes Kyle Sinckler and Mark Wilson, who has been selected at No.8 ahead of the uncapped Zach Mercer. Brad
3:20 AM BST A second-string All Blacks side is poised to set a new mark in professional rugby when they face Japan in Tokyo. Coach Steve Hansen has named two uncapped players in his starting team and another six on the reserves bench for Saturday’s Test at Ajinomoto Stadium. If they all get on the
2:39 PM BST Jonny Gray, Hamish Watson and Ryan Wilson have been named in Scotland’s starting line-up for the opening match of the autumn internationals against Wales on Saturday. All three players were rested for Scotland’s summer tour of the Americas and return to join Willem Nel, Stuart McInally, Allan Dell, Ben Toolis and Jamie
10:27 AM BST Wales’ record cap-holder Gethin Jenkins will retire from rugby after Cardiff Blues’ PRO14 clash with Zebre this weekend. Prop Jenkins, 37, has been suffering with a chronic knee injury and the Blues announced via a statement Wednesday he will be unable to continue playing at a “sustained level.” Jenkins is Wales’ current
1:54 AM BST Unwanted by their Australian franchises, Sef Fa’agase and Jack Debreczeni have linked with New Zealand Super Rugby teams for the 2019 season. Queensland Reds prop of four seasons Fa’agase and five-season Melbourne Rebels five-eighth Jack Debreczeni will play for the Highlanders and Chiefs respectively and also be eligible for the All Blacks.
5:39 PM BST Springboks No 8 Duane Vermeulen expects a bruising forward tussle in the Springboks’ opening November international against England at Twickenham on Saturday and believes the set-piece battle could go a long way to deciding the contest. Vermeulen was outstanding as the Boks claimed a 2-1 home series win over England in June,
10:53 AM BST Former England captain Will Carling is to join Eddie Jones’ backroom team in a mentorship role ahead of the autumn internationals. Carling, who captained England from 1988 to 1996, will offer leadership advice and guidance to England’s current squad, who are training in Portugal to prepare for the November Tests. He will
7:43 PM BST KweseESPN Staff The Springboks will face England with a greenhorn at scrumhalf after coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed that Faf de Klerk will not play a part in South Africa’s opening match of their November tour on Saturday. The England-based Faf de Klerk will miss the Test at Twickenham because it falls outside