Castres 18 Leinster 15

Leinster captain Brian O'Driscoll has been passed fit for their Heineken Cup game against Castres tonight.

Leinster were soundly beaten by Dax in their pre-season friendly before 6,000 spectators at the Stade Maurice Boyau last night.

ENGLAND head coach Andy Robinson praised the staying power and attitude of his players following the 46-19 victory over the Barbarians at Twickenham.

The Barbarians will field a team selected from seven countries, including Ireland's David Humphreys and Bob Casey, when they tackle an England XV in Sunday’s Gartmore Challenge match at Twickenham.

Zurich Premiership side Northampton have failed in their bid to sign Australian international centre Steve Kefu as a replacement for the departing John Leslie.

WALLABY centre Steve Kefu has been cleared by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) of a doping offence after he took a steroid to treat a viral disorder.

Matt Dawson today insisted he was not “arrogant”.

CLIVE WOODWARD has dismissed the latest round of Pommie-bashing as momentum gathered towards Saturday’s World Cup final showdown against Australia.

David Giffin was today declared fit to play from the bench in Australia’s World Cup semi-final against New Zealand on Saturday.

Australian international Toutai Kefu has called for England to be docked points over the Dan Luger 16-man saga.

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.

SOUTH AFRICAN rugby’s two governing bodies have ordered an independent inquiry into allegations of racism in the national team, following the resignation of communications manager Mark Keohane yesterday.

Australia's World Cup aspirations suffered a heavy blow when vice-captain and influential number eight Toutai Kefu was ruled out of the tournament with a cracked shoulder-blade.

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte insists he has nothing to hide when his side tackles Six Nations Grand Slam champions and World Cup favourites England today.

Australia’s World Cup hopes could be dealt a severe blow with vice-captain Toutai Kefu a doubt because of a shoulder injury, according to media reports.

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.

SOUTH AFRICA’S rugby reputation was tainted again yesterday after forward Bakkies Botha was banned for eight weeks and prop Robbie Kempson for four weeks in the aftermath of the spiteful Tri-Nations Test with Australia here.

South Africans Robbie Kempson and Bakkies Botha were both cited after yesterday’s Tri-Nations defeat as the Springboks were branded a “disgrace to international rugby”.

Australia 45

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.

CHRIS LATHAM has been ruled out of Australia's tour to Argentina, Britain and Ireland next month after being injured in a freak accident.

Injury worries forced Australian selectors to name an expanded 26-man squad for the opening Tri Nations clash with New Zealand in Christchurch on July 13.

The Lions suffered a tortuous defeat in Stadium Australia as the world champions took the three-Test series.

Two former Rugby League stars come face to face in the union code, with both of them boasting match-winning credentials.

The British and Irish Lions will face their toughest test of their tour of Australia so far when they take on the Super 12 team, the Queensland Reds today.