Criticism of his tactics, selections, birthplace or any other facet of his behaviour has been wool off a sheep’s back to Australia’s New Zealand-born coach Robbie Deans.

IRELAND have had to absorb painful lessons over the course of the last four weeks and it remains to be seen if recent events will sharpen their World Cup appetite for battle or kill their enthusiasm for the fight.

AUSTRALIA’S five-point win over New Zealand in the Tri Nations decider has left Robbie Deans with a number of selection dilemmas to sort through before the World Cup.

Australia’s five-point win over New Zealand in the Tri Nations decider has left Robbie Deans with a number of selection dilemmas to sort through before the World Cup.

Rocky Elsom has been sensationally dumped as Australia skipper for the World Cup campaign.

TOP rugby referee Jonathan Kaplan has been rested from his August Test duties in order to maximise recovery from minor injuries sustained during a road accident last week.

Teenager James O’Connor is set to become the second-youngest player ever to pull on an Australia jersey after being named in the squad to tour Europe later this year.

Australia coach John Connolly is boosted by the return of fly-half Stephen Larkham for Saturday’s Test against Wales in Brisbane, while Western Force winger Digby Ioane will win his first Wallabies cap.

Julian Huxley has been named at full-back for Australia in Saturday’s Test against Wales at Telstra Stadium, while George Smith and George Gregan will start on the reserves bench.

The Wallabies will have joint captains during their upcoming nine-match Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series with Phil Waugh and Stirling Mortlock to share leadership duties.

Uncapped Queensland Reds lock Mitchell Chapman and Western Force loose forward Scott Fava have been called into Australia’s touring squad.

WALES head coach Gareth Jenkins has wasted no time in pencilling James Hook into his World Cup squad after the rookie fly-half made a starring home debut in Saturday’s thrilling draw with Australia.

Stirling Mortlock has been named as Australian rugby’s new captain for Australia’s seven-match tour of Europe in November.

Australia coach John Connolly has revealed Rodney Blake’s extra size was a major factor in him being selected ahead of Guy Shepherdson for Saturday’s Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand in Brisbane.

IN THE END, a season that delivered so much couldn’t provide the fitting finale. Saturday’s test against Australia proved a game too far for this group of players.

Guy Shepherdson has been handed a Test debut by Australia coach John Connolly for the clash against Ireland on Saturday in Perth.

Australia captaincy duo Stirling Mortlock and Dan Vickerman are expecting a vastly different England display in the second Test after the world champions made six changes to the team that was beaten 34-3 in last week’s clash in Sydney.

Australia have named a 33-man squad for the Test against England at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney on June 11.

WALLABIES coach John Connolly have named a 37-man squad for next month’s four-test tour of Italy, Britain and Ireland.

GEORGE Gregan looks set to add to his world record 115 test caps after being confirmed as Australia’s captain for their tour of Europe in November.

DEFENDING champions South Africa go into this afternoon’s Tri-Nations opener against Australia at Loftus in Pretoria as favourites to get their campaign off to a winning start.

The Barbarians squad to take on New Zealand in Saturday’s international at Twickenham is packed with world stars but only features one player from the northern hemishpere.

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

Schalk Burger, the International Rugby Board’s player of the year, will line up for the Barbarians against New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday.

Kiwis Reuben Thorne and Justin Marshall were among eight players included in the Barbarians squad to face New Zealand at Twickenham next month.

Australia coach Eddie Jones has made three changes up front for Saturday’s autumn international against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Australia coach Eddie Jones made just one enforced change to his side for Saturday’s World Cup final and then backed his relatively inexperienced forward pack to give England an almighty test.

World Cup holders Australia have suffered an injury blow ahead of today’s quarter-final showdown with Scotland at Suncorp Stadium.

Australia coach Eddie Jones today made just one enforced change to the Wallabies side that beat Argentina in the World Cup’s opening game – but sprung an unexpected surprise on the bench.

Veteran flanker Owen Finegan was the biggest omission from Australia’s World Cup squad announced in Sydney today.

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has played down the prospect of decoy runners and illegal blocking becoming a major issue in tomorrow’s clash against England at Twickenham.

IRFU chiefs have pledged that surface water problems at Lansdowne Road will be rectified by a new two-phase drainage system.

Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll believes his side have their best-ever chance of ending their 23-year victory drought against Australia at Lansdowne Road tomorrow.

IRELAND wing Denis Hickie has been passed fit to face Australia at Lansdowne Road tomorrow after recovering from a wrist injury.

WORLD champions Australia take on Argentina tonight (11.15pm Irish time) looking to avoid a repeat of the embarrassing defeat they suffered at the hands of the Pumas when they last played in South America five years ago.