Joe Schmidt believes the intervention of World Rugby referees’ chief Alain Rolland will help prevent a repeat of the controversies that marred Ireland’s rematch with New Zealand last weekend.

Australia cruised to a 12th successive victory over woeful Wales as they ran their hosts ragged at the Principality Stadium.

Leigh Halfpenny will make his eagerly-awaited Test match return tomorrow when Wales host opening autumn opponents Australia.

Samu Kerevi's two-try brace drove Australia to 33-21 Rugby Championship victory over Argentina at Twickenham, to ease pressure on boss Michael Cheika.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has declared there can be no excuses for his side in this morning’s Rugby Championship decider against Australia and warns they’re in for a tough game if they don’t improve.

Wing, centre, full back? Keith Earls is now well used to the challenging question as to what his favourite position is, and his answer is somewhat different to what it might have been a few years ago.

Connacht have sealed the eighth and last quarter-final berth of the European Challenge Cup.

Italy’s Sergio Parisse will captain the Barbarians against the British and Irish Lions in Hong Kong this Saturday.

Logic and mathematics continue to suggest that Leinster will fall short in their attempt to escape the confines of the pool stages this weekend but a scan of Joe Schmidt’s team yesterday was enough to give pause.

Exeter 30 Scarlets 20

Leinster 9 Exeter Chiefs 6

Leinster may be the focus of our thoughts here but it is worth pausing for a brief moment to take stock of just how far their opponents today have come in such a short space of time.

AUSTRALIA’S comprehensive defeat by England at Twickenham on Saturday has added spice to tomorrow night’s clash of the Wallabies and Munster at Thomond Park.

Australia selectors have named 12 uncapped players in an extended 40-man training squad ahead of the upcoming spring tour of Hong Kong and Europe.

Lachie Turner has been named in the Australia XV for Saturday’s clash with New Zealand in Sydney.

Robbie Deans has made three changes to Australia’s squad for their Tri Nations clash with South Africa on Sunday.

Australia have made three changes to their team to take on South Africa in the Tri Nations at Bloemfontein on Saturday with Stephen Moore, Mark Chisholm and Ben McCalman drafted in.

South Africa 44 Australia 31

Australia’s Dean Mumm has heaped praise on fellow lock Victor Matfield, a player who is set to earn his 100th Test cap for South Africa on Saturday.

Australia coach Robbie Deans welcomes back three of his big guns for Saturday night’s Tri Nations encounter with South Africa in Brisbane.

Winger Drew Mitchell is the most notable omission from Australia's squad for the forthcoming Tri-Nations series.

Robbie Deans has made two injury-enforced changes to his Australia side ahead of Saturday's one-off Test against Ireland in Brisbane.

Scotland 9 Australia 8

Australia today made just one change to their starting XV for Saturday’s autumn international against Scotland.

Openside David Pocock gets the nod over George Smith as the only change to the Wallabies starting side named today for Sunday’s Test against Ireland at Croke Park.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has made four changes to Australia’s starting side to play Saturday’s historic Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Japan

AUSTRALIA’S hopes of climbing back into Tri Nations contention have been dealt a crushing blow with second-rower Nathan Sharpe and classy centre Berrick Barnes ruled out of Saturday night’s Test against South Africa in Perth.

Australia coach Robbie Deans tonight insisted Twickenham “holds no baggage” for the Wallabies despite their poor recent record at the ground.

AUSTRALIA and New Zealand yesterday squabbled over their line-ups for this weekend’s Bledisloe Cup match with the All Blacks claiming star player Dan Carter was being deliberately targeted.

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.

Luke Burgess and Peter Hynes will make their Australia Test debuts against Ireland in Melbourne on Saturday after Robbie Deans announced his first team selection as coach.

ROBBIE DEANS has named seven uncapped players in his first Australia squad for the Test against Ireland on June 14.

Robbie Deans has named seven uncapped players in his first Australia squad for the Test against Ireland on June 14.

TWO second-half tries enabled the NSW Waratahs to overcome a half-time deficit and defeat the Brumbies at the Sydney Football Stadium yesterday.

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.