News
Rugby Union
Folau 'selected on form'
GEORGINA ROBINSON Waratahs quietly confident they will retain the 24-year-old's services in 2014.
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.
Rugby Union
Smiles all round as rookie wins upgrade and Brumbies call-up
LEE GASKIN The Brumbies are confident rookie Jordan Smiler can step up to the mark at openside flanker.
Rebels' confidence up for Waratahs clash
6:48pm 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.
Rebels rugby captain loving new role
Jim Morton and Sam Lienert 5:57pm Wallabies back-rower Scott Higginbotham has hit career-best Super Rugby form in the past month as he laps up the Rebels captaincy.
Rebels' confidence up for Waratahs clash
Sam Lienert 5:33pm The Melbourne Rebels will take confidence from a breakthrough Super Rugby win as they try to beat the NSW Waratahs for the first time on Friday night.
Share the load Quade, Deans tells Wallaby
Jim Morton and Sam Lienert 5:31pm Robbie Deans claims enigmatic playmaker Quade Cooper's attacking game has become predictable and James O'Connor suits the Wallabies better.
Waratahs building momentum says Barnes
James MacSmith 5:06pm Berrick Barnes says the Waratahs are building some Super Rugby momentum after three straight wins.
Barnes' storming efforts could have him in starting side
PAUL CULLY The significance of Berrick Barnes' cameos against the Stormers and Brumbies in successive weeks is that he could be playing his way into the Wallabies starting XV, let alone the 25-man squad.
Wallaby selection will influence decision on future, says Folau
GEORGINA ROBINSON 1:55pm Wallaby-in-waiting Israel Folau understands why rugby fans worry he might be “using the game” if he goes back to league at the end of the year but maintained being selected in the squad to take on the British and Irish Lions was a huge honour.
O'Connor to relish Wallabies' No.10 role
Sam Lienert 1:04pm James O'Connor says he will make the most of his opportunity after being nominated as the Wallabies' starting five-eighth for the Lions Test series.
Cooper behind Tapuai slump: Deans
PHIL LUTTON 12:13pm 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.
Wallaby call-up could sway Folau to stay
James MacSmith 6:15pm Israel Folau says his selection in the Wallabies squad for the Test series against the British and Irish Lions could convince him to stay with rugby union.
Ioane ruled out for Reds with injury
12:31pm BRISBANE: The Queensland Reds have suffered a blow ahead of this weekend's Super Rugby clash against the Stormers in Cape Town with Wallabies winger Digby Ioane ruled out due to injury.
Ioane ruled out for Reds with injury
10:31am Wallabies winger Digby Ioane has been sent home from the Queensland Reds' tour of South Africa with a knee injury.
Cooper no defensive worry, says McKenzie
Darren Walton 8:07am Queensland coaching director Ewen McKenzie says it's unfair that Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has placed defensive demands on Quade Cooper.
Rugby Union
Wilkinson named Europe's best rugby player
7:35am England rugby legend Jonny Wilkinson rounded off the perfect weekend after being named European player of the year on Sunday, a day after captaining Toulon to European Cup victory.
Rugby Union
O'Connor gets guernsey
Georgina Robinson and Darren Walton, Sydney Melbourne Rebel gets first crack at British and Irish Lions in No. 10 jumper.
Smith could play again - for the Brumbies not Wallabies
CHRIS DUTTON The ACT Brumbies are hopeful George Smith will play at least one more game this year despite a knee injury cruelling his hopes of a historic second chance against the British and Irish Lions.
Wallabies before Brumbies: Macqueen
CHRIS DUTTON Rod Macqueen says the Wallabies must take priority over Super Rugby play-off dreams.
We need to regain the spark: Mowen
CHRIS DUTTON ACT Brumbies captain Ben Mowen says his team needs to regain its early-season form to make the finals.
Tale of Tahs, Brumbies and ... Wallabies
JOHN EALES Know your story, tell it well and tell it often.
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.
Burgess half a chance for Lions: Deans
GEORGINA ROBINSON The Wallabies may have to do without one returning son but another is still very much in the mix.
Rugby
McKenzie defends omitted Cooper
Ewen McKenzie launched a fierce defence of Quade Cooper after Wallabies coach Robbie Deans on Sunday all but froze the mercurial playmaker out of the looming series with the touring British and Irish Lions.
Cooper a risk Deans was not prepared to take
PAUL CULLY Cooper was out of the 25. The process that led to that point has been a few years in the making.
You lack attack, Deans tells overlooked Cooper
GEORGINA ROBINSON Robbie Deans has asked five-eighth Quade Cooper to be more "assertive" in attack as well as defence before he selects him to play against the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane next month.
Cooper overlooked for Wallabies
Darren Walton Robbie Deans' most likely successor as Wallabies coach has questioned Quade Cooper's omission from the squad to tackle the British and Irish Lions.
