Ireland manager Joe Schmidt has admitted that Jonathan Sexton’s hamstring injury will leave him a big doubt for Ireland’s final Guinness Series autumn international against New Zealand.

Australia 14 Argentina 13

Ewen McKenzie has been confirmed as Australia’s new head coach following Robbie Deans’ resignation.

By Simon Lewis, Sydney

An eventful few hours in the Australia camp began with wing Digby Ioane being issued with an arrest warrant.

Australia have picked James O'Connor at fly-half for Saturday's opening Test against the British and Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium with Kurtley Beale included on the bench.

British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has predicted a fierce battle for back-row places in the forthcoming Test series against Australia.

Wales 12 Argentina 26

Wingers Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner have been included in Australia’s training squad as they prepare for the Rugby Championship.

Australia lock Nathan Sharpe has announced his retirement from professional rugby at the end of the upcoming Super Rugby campaign with Western Force which rules out him making farewell appearances against Scotland and Wales.

James O'Connor has been recalled by Australia for Saturday's clash with Ireland at Eden Park.

England 35 Australia 18

Stephen Moore has returned to the Australia line-up for this weekend's Cook Cup clash with England.

New Zealand 20 Australia 10

Australia have suffered yet another injury blow ahead of Saturday's one-off Test against Ireland in Brisbane after veteran lock Nathan Sharpe was ruled out with a back complaint.

Australia 27 England 17

Martin Johnson confirmed today that Australia's arch nemesis Jonny Wilkinson will be fit to tackle the Wallabies in Perth next Saturday.

Jerry Flannery believes Cian Healy's impressive Test debut has offered a vital option at prop as Ireland continue their search for precious front-row resources.

Recalled prop Matt Dunning has warned northern hemisphere rivals not to underestimate Australia based on their lack of Tri-Nations success this season.

Australia captain Stirling Mortlock's Tri-Nations campaign remains in serious doubt with the veteran set to undergo scans on his injured left knee tomorrow morning to determine his immediate playing future.

Australia 34 Italy 12

Australia 55 Fiji 12

Australia coach John Connolly was not getting too carried away with the Wallabies' stirring 20-15 victory over New Zealand in Melbourne on Saturday night, but he did enjoy it.

Australia prop Matt Dunning is relishing the prospect of his personal clash with New Zealand tighthead Carl Hayman in the Wallabies' next Tri-Nations match later this month.

Australia coach John Connolly has today moved quickly to dispel rumours that he will be sacked before the World Cup.

Australia 31 Wales 0

Former Australia coach Bob Dwyer believes the decision to leave league recruits Ryan Cross and Clinton Schifcofske out of the Wallabies' 47-man training squad was a mistake.

SCOTT JOHNSON yesterday ended speculation over his future by confirming he is to join Australia’s coaching team — ending the Welsh Rugby Union’s hopes of retaining his services.

EDDIE JONES may be playing it cool ahead of a review into his stewardship of the Wallabies after a disastrous spring tour but it’s what his boss didn’t say yesterday that will be making the coach sweat on his future.

ON SUNDAY, six months to the day after his last game in charge of Munster, Alan Gaffney returned to Irish shores.

EUROPEAN rugby fans can expect some surprising selections when Australia embark on a four-Test tour in November, according to national coach Eddie Jones.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry believes the All Blacks still have a long way to go if they want to win the 2007 World Cup despite confirming their place as the world’s number one team.

WALLABIES captain George Gregan said South African coach Jake White’s claim that infiltration of rugby league culture is damaging Australian rugby was “hysterical.”

SCHALK BURGER, the International Rugby Board’s Player of the Year, will line up for the Barbarians against New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday.

Elton Flatley, who so nearly dashed England’s dreams in the World Cup final a year ago, has returned to the Australia side for their defence of the Cook Cup at Twickenham on Saturday.

Australia must count the cost of their pyrrhic victory over Scotland as they approach next weekend's Twickenham date with England nursing a long injury list.

Australia captain George Gregan has declared he is available for the forthcoming tour of Europe.

WHEN JONNY Wilkinson kicked his third drop goal in less than an hour during the World Cup semi-final win over France, English fans began dancing in the rain.

ENGLAND coach Clive Woodward revealed yesterday that the team’s hotel rooms have been swept for bugs but insisted that the World Cup finalists were not being paranoid in the run-up to Saturday’s decider against Australia.

Scotland bowed out of the World Cup as expected at Suncorp Stadium, losing 33-16 but in the process virtually shattering Australia's dream of retaining the trophy.

AUSTRALIA aren’t just setting their sights on beating Ireland in Melbourne this weekend, they’re hoping to do it with an attacking verve rarely seen in a game between two of rugby’s better teams on the biggest stage.

FORMER World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer is backing a ‘better balanced’ Irish team to beat Argentina at the Adelaide Oval tomorrow.

IN the current lull that marks the final countdown before the frenzy of the Rugby World Cup kick off, the media has been scraping the story barrel, scrounging around for stories of the off-the-ball — or off-the-wall — variety.

JONNY Wilkinson will launch England's World Cup bid against Georgia next Sunday boosted by a good luck message from David Beckham.