Super Rugby
Rugby
'Picasso of the Pass' paints a sad picture
Spiro Zavos QUADE Cooper grew up in the New Zealand idolising the extravagant rugby play of Carlos Spencer. Cooper has become a Spencer clone. There are the tats. And the cheeky grin when a clever play has come off. There are the outrageous passes (I once called Cooper, ''the Picasso of the Pass''), the sensational break-outs and the astounding variety of kicks that offer numerous chances for chasers to score tries. Why wouldn't Robbie Deans pick this Wallaby wizard to bewilder the British and Irish Lions in their Test series?
Reds recall old triumph in bid to beat Stormers
Jim Morton The Queensland Reds are taking confidence from their best away win of the past decade into Sunday morning's (Sydney time) crucial clash in Cape Town.
We weren't desperate enough: Cheika
GEORGINA ROBINSON 11:37pm In a rare moment of coaching synchronicity, both Michael Cheika and Damien Hill agreed a confident Rebels side "out-enthused" a Waratahs outfit that just didn't want it badly enough.
Neck injury fails to stop Melbourne back-rower
STATHI PAXINOS A year ago Jarrod Saffy was looking at the end of his career, which had spanned both rugby codes, because of a neck injury he had suffered at a Rebels training session.
Higginbotham reboots Rebels with laid-back captaincy style
GEORGINA ROBINSON There are very few rugby players who find captaining a side relaxing.
Chiefs v Crusaders
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, Friday 5.35pm (AEST)
Rebels v Waratahs
AAMI Park, Melbourne, Friday 7.40pm (AEST)
Blues v Brumbies
Eden Park, Auckland, Saturday 5.35pm (AEST)
Force v Highlanders
nib Stadium, Perth, Saturday 7.40pm (AEST)
Kings v Cheetahs
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, Saturday 11pm (AEST)
Stormers v Reds
Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, Sunday 1.05am (AEST)
Sharks v Bulls
Kings Park Stadium, Durban, Sunday 3.10am (AEST)
Tahs are off and running now but hurdles loom
PAUL CULLY One look beyond the fixture against the Rebels explains why the Waratahs' finals aspirations are on the line in Melbourne on Friday night.
Palu sees room to improve
GEORGINA ROBINSON Wycliff Palu is as hard on himself as he is the Waratahs.
Resurgent Rebels have won respect, say Waratahs
GEORGINA ROBINSON For so long the whipping boys of Australian rugby, as pointed out by a sniping New Zealand pundit who bemoaned their rivals' lack of depth, the Rebels are finally commanding respect.
Smith, McCabe slim chance for Lions
George Smith’s hopes of playing for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions for a historic second time remain alive after scans on his knee revealed he could be back on the park within a month.
Rugby
Cooper can force way into squad, says coach
Georgina Robinson, Phil Lutton As the Waratahs coach preparing his side to face the Reds in round two this season, Michael Cheika paid no heed to Quade Cooper's so-called defensive weaknesses.
Seventy-seven Super minutes enough to convince the man that counts
GEORGINA ROBINSON It is a testament to Berrick Barnes' contribution to the Wallabies last year that, after just 77 minutes of Super Rugby this year, the NSW playmaker was still among the first 25 players named to face the British and Irish Lions in a month's time.
White pleased Mogg won't be fed to Lions
LEE GASKIN Brumbies coach Jake White is relieved fullback Jesse Mogg wasn't thrown to the Lions and believes his development will be better served in Super Rugby than as a utility outside back for the Wallabies.
Rebels' confidence up for Waratahs clash
The Melbourne Rebels’ drought-breaking Super Rugby win over the Stormers has created confidence they can achieve another breakthrough against the NSW Waratahs on Friday night.
Cooper behind Tapuai slump: Deans
PHIL LUTTON Wallaby coach Robbie Deans says Quade Cooper’s shortcomings as a player have had a hand in the fall from grace of Reds teammate and former Wallaby centre Ben Tapuai.
Tahs stay on track, but finals talk off the cards
Darren Walton The NSW Waratahs are refusing to talk finals football despite continuing on their impressive roll towards the Super Rugby play-offs with a gritty win over the stumbling Brumbies.
Rugby
Debatable try helps Bulls to victory
David Legge A controversial try helped the Bulls to a bonus-point 35-18 win over the Highlanders on Saturday and second place in the Super Rugby standings.
Rugby
Reds lose as Cheetahs display their attacking van Zyl
Jim Morton Cheetahs halfback Piet van Zyl scored two first-half tries as the Queensland Reds suffered a 27-13 loss in the Super Rugby game at Bloemfontein.
Rebels hope storming win helps save coach's skin
STATHI PAXINOS The Melbourne Rebels players say they realise the only way they can help coach Damien Hill keep his job is by winning.
Switch to Barnes unlocks Tahs attack
GEORGINA ROBINSON Waratahs coach Michael Cheika praised Berrick Barnes for his role in the side’s three-try, second-half comeback win against the Brumbies on Saturday.
Injuries overshadow late Waratahs triumph
GEORGINA ROBINSON A football stadium that came to resemble a Wallabies casualty ward overshadowed a telling 28-22 victory for the Waratahs over conference leaders the Brumbies at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.
Rugby
Crusaders beat Blues to maintain momentum
The Crusaders have continued to build momentum into their Super Rugby campaign with a clinical 23-3 win over the Blues that moves them into second spot in the New Zealand conference.
Hindsight
Folau can only let his talent do the talking
RICHARD HINDS Should Israel Folau play for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions?
