Tag Archives: Wallabies

Sean McMahon reporting Tokyo Stadium Well, that was certainly entertaining, wasn’t it?  Drop goals, offloads, high tackles, yellow cards, interceptions, length of field tries – the Pool D clash between Australia and Wales certainly packed a punch. Wales ultimately came out on the right end of a 29-25 scoreline after Australia mounted a comeback in the second half when they …

Sean McMahon reporting from the Tokyo Stadium Wales have defeated Australia 29-25 at the Tokyo Stadium as they set their course on securing top spot in Pool D.  Wales produced a superb first-half performance as they scored tries through Hadleigh Parkes and the excellent Gareth Davies. Points from the boot of Dan Biggar, who was replaced by Rhys Patchell due …

Wallaby flanker David Pocock will retire from international rugby following the World Cup. The 31-year-old will make his 78th Test appearance for Australia on Saturday when he captains the side against Samoa in Parramatta. The destructive flanker announced today however that he will bring the curtain down on his illustrious Wallabies career following this year’s tournament in Japan. The veteran …

Michael Cheika has included uncapped teenage sensation Jordan Petaia in his 31-man squad ahead of the World Cup in Japan. The 19-year-old, who is the only uncapped player in the squad, had missed most of the Super Rugby season with a Lisfranc injury but still makes Cheika’s 31 and could be a wildcard for them in the tournament. Petaia is …

The World Rugby rankings could be set for a major shakeup this weekend as three different teams could overtake the All Blacks as the world’s number one side just a few weeks out from the 2019 Rugby World Cup.  Wales, who had a huge opportunity last weekend to become the number one ranked side if they had beaten England, will …

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has made a number of changes to the team for Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup decider against Australia.  In total, Hansen has made five changes which sees some highly experienced players cut from the starting XV. Upfront, the 108 times capped Owen Franks loses his place at tighthead to Nepo Laulala while Patrick Tuipulotu comes in …

All Blacks lock Scott Barrett has been banned for three weeks after receiving a red card in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup tie with the Wallabies. Barrett was sent off after appearing to lead with his shoulder in the tackle at the breakdown and made contact with the Australian captain Michael Hooper’s head. The tackle was adjudged to have been dangerous by …

The Wallabies put on a scintillating display to emerge 47-26 winners over the All Blacks in the opening match of the 2019 Bledisloe Cup.  Michael Cheika’s side showed their intent early on when they made a number of linebreaks in the opening minutes but they couldn’t convert that pressure into points on the scoreboard until the excellent Christian Lealiifano slotted …

Australia and New Zealand are set to lock horns this weekend and write yet another chapter in the history of the Bledisloe Cup. The competition consists of an annual three-match series involving the two rugby heavyweights with two of their Rugby Championship clashes counting towards the final result. The pair go head to head in Perth this weekend and the …

James O’Connor was the shock inclusion in Michael Cheika’s Wallabies team selection for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash with the All Blacks.  O’Connor made his first appearance for Australia since 2013 two weeks ago in the win over Argentina when he was sprung from the bench. However, Cheika has now entrusted him to start at outside centre for the Wallabies as …

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has named a side which looks close to his strongest XV for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash with Australia in Perth.  In total, Hansen has made six changes to the side which drew 16-16 with the Springboks in Wellington two weeks ago. Up front, Dane Coles replaces Codie Taylor at hooker and Scott Barrett comes …

Wales are going into the 2019 Rugby World Cup in pretty good nick.  Warren Gatland’s side is currently on a 14-match winning streak which coincided with a Grand Slam victory in the Six Nations earlier this year. It all began with a win over Italy in last year’s Six Nations and continued throughout their summer tour, the Autumn internationals and …

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is confident that David Pocock will show his best form for Australia once he makes his return from injury.  Inspirational flanker Pocock has been out of action for six months due to a troubling calf injury but he was named in Michael Cheika’s extended squad for this weekend’s clash with the All Blacks in Perth. This …

Australian rugby have received a huge boost with the news that Kurtley Beale has signed on with the NSW Waratahs for another season.  Beale’s contract will keep him in Australia until the end of the 2020 season. The 30-year-old’s desire to remain with the Sydney based franchise will come as a huge relief to officials in Rugby Australia as many …

The 2019 Rugby Championship kicks off this weekend as New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina battle it out over the next few weeks. This year’s edition is shortened to just three rounds due to the Rugby World Cup beginning in September but it will provide ideal preparation for the competing nations ahead of Japan. This weekend’s action takes place …

The worst kept secret in rugby has been confirmed as James O’Connor has signed a two and half year deal with the Queensland Reds and Rugby Australia.  The utility back was granted a release from his contract with Gallagher Premiership side the Sale Sharks as he wanted to give himself the best opportunity to represent the Wallabies at the upcoming …

Sale Sharks have announced that former Wallaby James O’Connor has been released from his contract so that he can pursue the prospect of representing Australia at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.  O’Connor joined the Sharks from Toulon at the beginning of the 2017/18 season and has made 31 appearances for the club in the two years since. O’Connor signed a …

Louth native Michael McDonald has been named to start at scrum-half for the junior Wallabies’ World Rugby U20 Championship clash with Ireland in Santa Fe on Saturday (KO 2.30 pm).  McDonald, who hails from the Cooley peninsula in Co. Louth, emigrated to Perth with his family when he was 13 and has since blazed a trail through Western Australia’s underage …