Australia 49 Fiji 0

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 29 Wales 23

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.

A BATTLE is looming in Australian rugby with the governing body being accused of favouring the New South Wales Waratahs over the other Australian Super 14 teams — the Reds, Brumbies and Western Force.

Scotland 15 Australia 44

Light wind and drizzle greeted the teams as Ireland launched their bid to secure unprecedented back-to-back victories over major southern hemisphere opposition for the first time.

Australia head coach John Connolly admitted choosing his most potent backline is proving troublesome after naming another revamped team for Sunday’s clash with Ireland.

Australia captain Stirling Mortlock will start in the unfamiliar role of inside centre for Saturday’s clash with Ireland.

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

ACT Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher has questioned the value of Australia’s Tests against Fiji and Wales in the run-up to next year’s World Cup.

Australia 20 South Africa 18

Former Australia centre Rod Kafer has slammed the Wallabies’ management for adopting a forwards-based approach during their 13-9 defeat to New Zealand in the Tri-Nations tournament.

SUPERLATIVES flowed yesterday for captain Richie McCaw after his inspirational leadership in New Zealand’s retention of the Bledisloe Cup against Australia at Lang Park.

New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup with a hard-fought victory over Australia in their Tri-Nations encounter.

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.

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

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.

Australia 37 Ireland 15

THE last throw of the dice for Ireland to prove they’re up there with the big boys.

Australia fly-half Stephen Larkham expects a much tougher Test match this weekend when the Wallabies take on Ireland in Perth.

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

Australia 43 England 18

AUSTRALIA’S new era under coach John Connolly began with a crushing 34-3 win over England yesterday, helped by an unlikely try from hulking prop Rodney “Rodzilla” Blake on his Test debut.

England’s return to the scene of their 2003 World Cup final triumph ended in a predictable and painful defeat as Australia sunk them following an error-marred Telstra Stadium showdown.

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

ANDY ROBINSON and scrummaging guru Phil Keith-Roach attended a pre-Test meeting with referee Joel Jutge to ensure the Frenchman is fully briefed on the ‘tricks’ England expect Australia’s forwards to employ in today’s clash at Twickenham.

EDDIE JONES has been put on notice by his bosses at the Australian Rugby Union but the Wallabies coach yesterday laughed off suggestions he is under any more pressure than normal.

New Zealand were crowned Tri-Nations champions on Saturday after defeating Australia 34-24 at Eden Park in Auckland.

Australia’s dismal run of injuries continued on Friday when NSW Waratahs prop forward Matt Dunning failed to complete training.

Australia’s rising injury toll has forced head coach Eddie Jones to bring in four new faces to his 28-man squad for the final Test of the Tri-Nations, against New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday September 3.

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

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.

Morgan Turinui, a try-scorer in yesterday’s 34-13 victory over Scotland, has been dropped from the Australia squad to take on England in next Saturday’s World Cup final rematch.

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.

Australia coach Eddie Jones has called up ACT Brumbies reserve scrum-half Matt Henjak into his squad for the Wallabies’ first Test against Scotland on June 13 to replace the injured Elton Flatley.

Newcastle are confident that ACT Brumbies Super 12 star Radike Samo will be a Falcons player next season.

Australia have included five new players in their squad for the forthcoming Tests against Scotland and England – and they are all from the Super 12-winning ACT Brumbies team.

Rising star Mark Gerrard has extended his Super 12 contract with the ACT Brumbies until 2005.