SANZAR seeks security report from Bulls on bottle-throwing incident

Greg Growden SANZAR have contacted Bulls officials demanding improvements in ground security after All Blacks hooker and Blues skipper Keven Mealamu was hit by a bottle during the team's win at Loftus Versfeld in...

Rugby

Wounded and weary Wallabies relying on pride to earn result

Greg Growden ROSARIO: Wherever they have gone in Argentina this week, there has been no reprieve for the Wallabies.

Something's brewing: time for this well-fed scribe to bid adios

Greg Growden It all began 30 years ago. Australia v Scotland. Sydney Cricket Ground. After babbling my first Test match report for The Sun-Herald country edition to a similarly confused copytaker back in the old...

Comments 44

Smiling assassin: Deans ready to show no mercy

Greg Growden Does it help or hinder you that the Australian provinces finished the Super Rugby season relatively early?

Rugby

Rock-solid defence key to blunting the All Blacks

Greg Growden THE Wallabies have struggled to score tries this year but still believe they have the attacking prowess and game breakers to worry the All Blacks in tomorrow night's Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney.

Rugby

Waratahs boss tackles the tough questions

Greg Growden Greg Growden: Was [Waratahs team manager] Chris Webb sacked by you?

Rugby

Early start for Super Rugby to fit around tours

Greg Growden THE Australian rugby season is about to get even longer, with Super Rugby likely to start earlier in February to accommodate next year's three-Test British and Irish Lions tour.

Rugby

Give me five: O'Neill argues local sides are strong enough

Greg Growden AUSTRALIAN Rugby Union chief John O'Neill believes complaints that Australia doesn't have the playing numbers to warrant a fifth Super Rugby team and the local conference is not pulling its weight...

Gallop should take a run at sorting out Waratahs

Greg Growden A heartfelt plea to David Gallop. C'mon David, I know deep, deep down you actually don't mind rugby union. Don't deny it.

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Rugby

Another off-field distraction, but Deans bent on picking Beale

Greg Growden EVEN with an assault charge hanging over his head, Kurtley Beale is expected to return to the Wallabies line-up at fullback for the third and final Test against Wales at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Union

Charge will not prevent Aussie call for Beale

Greg Growden Even with an assault charge hanging over his head, Kurtley Beale is expected to return to the Wallabies' line-up at fullback for the third and final Test against Wales at Allianz Stadium on Saturday...

The fine print that puts the Reds well and truly in the frame

Greg Growden THE doomsayers are predicting the Reds have no chance of making the finals. That's because they haven't read the fine print. The Reds, on the other hand, remain buoyant for several good reasons.

Fading Force: Cheika snub hits hard in Perth

Greg Growden Morale at the Western Force has slumped after Michael Cheika knocked back their offer to take over as head coach.

Rugby

Reds revival has shown the way forward, says O'Neill

Greg Growden JOHN O'NEILL, the Australian Rugby Union chief, has called on the four other Australian Super provinces to follow the example of the Queensland Reds and dramatically boost crowds to improve the...

Sulking South Africans stand no chance of adding to Super quota

Greg Growden It's February, the Super Rugby season is about to start, and - shock, horror - the South African provinces are having an almighty whinge.

Tahs are aiming for afternoon delights

Greg Growden THE Waratahs are relying on old-fashioned afternoon football to address the alarming slide in their home-crowd figures.

Africans won't take no for answer on expansion plan

Greg Growden AUSTRALIA and New Zealand have discovered that where SANZAR is concerned, South Africa are ever persistent, endlessly pushing their cause on and off the field.

All change with Wallabies as coaching reshuffle begins to take shape

Greg Growden ROBBIE DEANS will be surrounded by different faces in the Wallabies coaching box this season, including at least three new assistant coaches.

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On the white track: Tri Nations could use citing scheme

Greg Growden THE white card concept could be extended to the expanded Tri Nations series this season if the International Rugby Board gives the green light.