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Loser label fires up Pirates
WEST HARBOUR captain Ben Martin has become accustomed to hearing the doomsayers of Sydney club rugby forecasting humiliation for most of their Shute Shield matches this season.
Deans wants to utilise Rocky's fighting spirit until the end
ALTHOUGH Rocky Elsom is heading to Ireland following the Tri Nations, there remains a strong chance he will play for the Wallabies during the extensive end-of-season tour through Hong Kong and Europe in November and December.
Think we have problems? Take a look at the Boks
AUSTRALIAN rugby is not entirely in great shape. The Wallabies can't string two good Test wins together. Depth in certain playing positions is flimsy. The Sydney premiership club scene remains a hornet's nest.
Robbie's right-hand man becomes nemesis
ROBBIE DEANS turned away from New Zealand rugby union as the Super 14's most successful coach, and now Greg Somerville, his right-hand man of a decade of scrums and silverware with the Crusaders, is preparing for some northern exposure.
No tug-of-war over Gaz: Ewen
EWEN McKENZIE says he will not stand in the way of Robbie Deans should the Wallabies coach seek the release of Mark Gasnier from Stade Francais to play for Australia during the end-of-season tour of Europe.
News not too Sonny for SBW
Sonny Bill Williams may have left Australia but he hasn't left his
injury-prone ways behind him.
Tahu has Deans on side to tackle defensive frailties
EVEN if Timana Tahu is one of the casualties of the Wallabies' biggest Test defeat and loses his starting spot for the Tri Nations decider against the All Blacks next week, he will not be cast adrift.
Loss helps our finals assault: Easts
EASTERN SUBURBS' loss to Randwick in the final round of the Shute Shield was one they needed to have if they are to earn a back-to-back shot at the Sydney club title, coach Scott Bowen said.
All Blacks run riot
The All Blacks got the practice run they wanted against Samoa as they ran in 15 tries to notch up a record score against the under-strength islanders in the historic test in New Plymouth on Wednesday night.
Boks leap Wallabies to No 2
The Springboks have won back the N.o 2 world ranking spot after
their massive Tri Nations win over the Wallabies.
Mortlock key to midfield muddle
Wallabies skipper Swill shift into inside centre if Berrick Barnes
is unfit to face the All Blacks.
McAlister not returning early
Former All Black centre has quashed speculation he's homesick and
ready for a return to New Zealand.
Holy Shute, there's a Wallaby in the opposition ranks: Hoiles's club finals get spicier
THERE was one sight Stephen Hoiles had hoped he would not see when he and the Galloping Greens run on to play Warringah in their Shute Shield semi-final on Sunday - that of Wallaby Brett Sheehan among the opposition.
Even tougher: Lote
Winger Lote Tuqiri insists the Wallabies will face their toughest Test of the year in Saturday week's Tri-Nations rugby decider against New Zealand, after already receiving beatings from the All Blacks and Springboks.
Hunt on over racist attack at Wallabies Test
South African rugby officials are offering a reward to help find three men responsible for a racist attack on a black woman at the Wallabies v Springboks Test in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Out of the woodwork, Flutey ready for All Blacks
Soon-to-be England rugby international Riki Flutey has told Martin
Johnson he has no qualms about facing the All Black haka in
November should he be required to go up against his former home
country.
Hodgson suffers cheekbone fracture
Western Force flanker undergoes surgery in England to repair a
fractured cheekbone.
Game is up for Somerville
Greg Somerville will play his last test at home for the All Blacks
on Wednesday night and he could be playing his last test when they
tackle the Wallabies in Brisbane next week.
On the ball, All Blacks ready to trap Wallabies
The All Blacks believe even a five per cent shift in form can
produce the 45-point hammering South Africa dished out to Australia
in Johannesburg.
Kasprowicz leaves Japan under a cloud
Former Waratahs and Eastwood player Simon Kasprowicz has left Japan
amid allegations of illegal drug use and faces arrest on his
return, according to Japanese newspaper and online reports at the
weekend.
Poidevin flays NSW union over player points system for clubs
Wallabies and Randwick great Simon Poidevin has rebuked the NSW
Rugby Union for yesterday approving a player points system it
believes will make the club championship a more even competition
next year.
Regrets - I've sure got a few, says Tahu
Timana Tahu says he is shattered by his nightmare run-on debut for
the Wallabies, especially over missing an early tackle that led to
a try.
The five crucial selections that Deans got wrong
A friend rang after the Wallabies defeated the Springboks at
Durban, their first victory in a Tri Nations Test in South Africa
in eight years, and said: "The way things are going Robbie Deans
will be canonised before Mary MacKillop."
McCaw to miss Samoa clash
All Blacks coach Graham Henry is confident Richie McCaw will be fit to front Australia in next week's Tri-Nations final after his injured skipper along with wing Sitiveni Sivivatu and lock Brad Thorn were left out of the side to play the test against Samoa on Wednesday night.
I'm like Jesus
Eccentric Springboks coach Peter de Villiers comparing his plight to that of Jesus Christ.
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