- Brought to you by:
About Greg Growden
About Greg Growden
Greg Growden has been the Chief Rugby Correspondent for the The Sydney Morning Herald since 1987. He started writing about rugby union in 1981, and in more than 25 years has reported on more than 200 test matches and covered countless Wallaby tours. He has chronicled the big changes in rugby: The birth of the World Cup, the turn to professionalism, the rise of the Super 14 and Tri-Nations tournaments and the return of South Africa to the international fold. France 2007 will be Growden's sixth World Cup.
Deans to take hands-off approach to Super men
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has stressed that he will not tell the four Australian Super 14 provinces how they should play next season, instead hoping that they will play as many different styles as possible.
Deans will be at full throttle
IN A few days, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will head into the wilds of the South Island of his native New Zealand to satisfy his other fix: the pursuit of speed.
It's barbers versus Barbarians as Deans unleashes his apprentices
YOUNG Wallabies James O'Connor and Quade Cooper have already proved a big hit on tour with their radical hairdressing skills - and now the duo have been given their chance to snip away at the Barbarians at Wembley on Wednesday night.
Rankings mean nothing: Deans
DESPITE the Wallabies getting a relatively comfortable draw in the
2011 World Cup, coach Robbie Deans still believes the seventh
tournament will be the most difficult to win.
Battered Wallabies forced to call on fresh troops for final fling against Barbarians
THE Wallabies' original plan to play close to their best line-up in
the tour finale against the Barbarians at Wembley Stadium on
Wednesday night has been thwarted by a high attrition rate from the
loss to Wales.
Captaincy carrot for Giteau with ARU to sever French connection
THE Australian Rugby Union could make Matt Giteau the Wallabies
captain by the next World Cup in a move intended to appease him
after it blocks a lucrative move to French club rugby.
Monday Maul
With a doddle against the Barbarians on Wednesday night all that is left of the Wallabies' end-of-season tour, it is time to reveal the Monday Maul awards.
Gits admits he's tempted by big-money offer
Wallabies five-eighth Matt Giteau will decide in the next fortnight whether to seek a release from the Australian Rugby Union to take up a $9.6 million four-season offer to play in France.
Loss leaves Wallabies dazed and confused
So near, yet so far. The Wallabies failed to finish off what would
have been a first unbeaten European tour since 1996 when wild
collisions, baffling refereeing and a well-drilled performance by
the Six Nations champions ensured the visitors fell just short at
Millennium Stadium.
A grand plan for next tour
A 25TH anniversary Wallabies tour of Great Britain and Ireland is close to being finalised after talks involving the Australian Rugby Union and the English Rugby Football Union.
Half volley sets goals for Burgess
IN THIS rugby-obsessed part of the globe, Wallabies five-eighth Matt Giteau can do no wrong, while halfback Luke Burgess is struggling to convince some he can do anything right.
Wallabies broaden their horizons in the north
With a limited number of players to choose from, the Wallabies have used this northern hemisphere tour to try to broaden their talent base. Greg Growden gauges their success.
Mr Scrum wants an Australian to replace him
DEPARTING Wallabies forwards coach Michael Foley has called on the Australian Rugby Union to replace him with an Australian and not offer the position to a candidate from overseas.
Welsh carry the hopes of a hemisphere
WALES are the only side left that can redeem northern hemisphere rugby, with the Tri Nations tourists having been all-conquering so far - and the Wallabies are on red alert.
Giteau to seek move to France, says report
TEST five-eighth Matt Giteau will seek a release from the Australian Rugby Union to play in France, according to a French media report.
Gatland warns Welsh: stop danger man Giteau
WALES coach Warren Gatland his warned his Six Nations champions that to beat the Wallabies they must shut down playmaker Matt Giteau, rated recently by former Welsh five-eighth Jonathan Davies as the world's best No.10.
Forgotten Waugh fired up to state claim in Test return
PHIL WAUGH is treating the Wallabies' toughest challenge of their European tour when they meet Wales at Millennium Stadium on Saturday as his Test-career lifeline.
Cross and Waugh recalled to face Wales
RYAN CROSS will revert to a no-frills, vegemite roll diet on match day to ensure he starts against Wales at Millennium Stadium on Saturday following the anguish of being a late withdrawal against France last week.
Official rankings rankle Wallabies but Welsh wizard rates Giteau
FORMER Welsh Test five-eighth Jonathan Davies believes Matt Giteau has edged ahead of Daniel Carter as the world's best No.10. And former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones maintains George Smith is in front of Richie McCaw as international rugby's No.1 openside breakaway.
Deans lets Burgess blunder pass
WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans has stressed his confidence in Test halfback Luke Burgess, believing he has all the makings of a standout international player.
Keep up to date with the latest rugby news