WITH the preliminaries against Wales and Fiji out of the way, Australia’s World Cup preparations begin in earnest with next Saturday’s Tri-Nations opener against South Africa in Cape Town.

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.

AUSTRALIA have called up hulking prop Rodney ‘Rodzilla’ Blake to face the All Blacks in Brisbane on Saturday, the only change to the side that handed South Africa a record thrashing two weeks ago.

WALLABIES sharpshooter Stirling Mortlock has vowed to improve his mediocre strike-rate as rain is set to make goal-kicking a key factor in this morning’s Tri-Nations clash against South Africa.

THREE gruelling battles in consecutive weeks took their toll as Ireland capitulated to a stronger Australian side at Subiaco Oval, Perth, on Saturday.

AUSTRALIA have included nine uncapped players in a new-look 33-man squad.

PROP Matt Dunning might be the only change to the Australia side for the clash against Wales at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow - but it is a significant one.

Australia head coach Eddie Jones has axed tight-head prop Al Baxter for Saturday’s clash with Ireland at Lansdowne Road and gambled on an inexperienced front row.

FIVE newcomers are included in the 31-man Australian squad for next month’s four-nation European tour, during which the Wallabies will face Ireland.

IF Munster’s pre-season form is anything to go by, then the team will improve on last year, according to centre Rob Henderson.

Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio will lead the northern hemisphere team in Saturday’s IRB Rugby Aid tsunami fund-raising game against their southern counterparts at Twickenham.

CLIVE WOODWARD yesterday announced his northern hemisphere squad for the Tsunami rugby aid match against the southern hemisphere at Twickenham on March 5.

Clive Woodward today announced his northern hemisphere squad for the Tsunami rugby aid match against the southern hemisphere at Twickenham on March 5.

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 coach Eddie Jones has named an unchanged side for Saturday’s Test against France at the Stade de France in Paris.

Australia coach Eddie Jones has named an unchanged side for the winner-take-all Tri-Nations decider with South Africa in Durban on Saturday.

Hooker Brendan Cannon will return from suspension to be the only change in personnel for Australia’s assignment at home to New Zealand on Saturday.

Australia were today forced to reshuffle their replacements for Saturday’s World Cup final rematch against England after winger Mark Gerrard and hooker Jeremy Paul sustained injuries in training.

Inside centre Matt Giteau returns to the Australia team to play England in Saturday’s World Cup final rematch after shaking off the flu that kept him out of last weekend’s victory over Scotland.

Scotland will have to brace themselves for the return of Stirling Mortlock and Phil Waugh to the Australia side after Eddie Jones today named his starting line-up for Saturday’s second Test in Sydney.

Scotland will face a new-look Australia side in Sunday’s first Test after Wallabies coach Eddie Jones awarded Clyde Rathbone and Radike Samo their international debuts.

Hosts and defending champions Australia take on the mighty All Blacks in the first of the World Cup semi-finals today in Sydney.

Matt Giteau has been ruled out of the Australian 22 for Saturday’s World Cup semi-final against New Zealand at Telstra Stadium.

Rugby league import Lote Tuqiri is the shock selection in Australia’s side to face Scotland in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final at Suncorp Stadium.

Ireland and Australia have kicked off their Pool A World Cup decider, with a quarter-final place against Scotland up for grabs.

Ireland captain Keith Wood retains his place for today's Pool A World Cup showdown with Australia, with a quarter-final place against Scotland up for grabs.

Australia coach Eddie Jones has resisted the temptation to select five-try hero Chris Latham and made just one change to his first-choice starting line-up for the match against Ireland in Melbourne on Saturday.

Australia coach Eddie Jones believes high expectations are his team’s biggest danger going into what should be a relatively comfortable World Cup Pool A match against Romania at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

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 utility back Matt Burke was today included in the Australia squad to play Argentina in Friday’s Rugby World Cup curtain-raiser after Stirling Mortlock was ruled out with gastroenteritis.

Eleven of Australia’s key players will go into the defence of the World Cup without having played a match in eight weeks.

The continuing misfortunes of Andrew Mehrtens and Jonah Lomu continue to dominate the build-up to New Zealand’s Tri-Nations clash with Australia on Saturday.

John Mitchell returned to his strongest possible line-up for New Zealand’s twin assault on the Bledisloe Cup and the world number one ranking this weekend.

Chris Latham’s international season went full circle on Wednesday when he was re-instated to the Australia side for this weekend’s Tri-Nations Test against South Africa.

SUPPORT for banned Irish rugby international Frank Sheahan mounted yesterday when his club called for full clarification on the use of asthma inhalers.

Jonny Wilkinson has said he is 'enthusiastic' about this weekend's clash between England and the Wallabies in Melbourne on Saturday.

AUSTRALIA coach Eddie Jones has called for Irish referee Dave McHugh to strictly police the breakdown and clamp down on any infringements in order to promote the fast, running rugby style he wants to play against England on Saturday.

Phil Waugh has replaced George Smith as Australia’s openside flanker for Saturday’s international against Wales at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney.

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George Gregan today rejoined the Wallabies camp preparing for a Twickenham showdown with England, and said: “I feel pretty good.”

Australia have made six changes to their side from that which beat Argentina 17-6 in Buenos Aires for Saturday's Test match with Ireland at Lansdowne Road.

Ben Tune's reversal of fortune was complete today when he was named on the Australian side to meet South Africa in the Tri-Nations decider on Saturday.

Australia have made one change for the Tri-Nations Series clash with South Africa in Perth on Saturday night.