Martin Johnson has called on the International Rugby Board to standardise refereeing the world over and end the north-south divide.

ROBBIE DEANS is adamant his Australia side will be up for the challenge when they come up against South Africa in their Tri-Nations encounter at Newlands tomorrow.

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.

South Africa lock Victor Matfield has dismissed suggestions Saturday’s Tri-Nations clash with Australia is a dead rubber, despite the Springboks having nothing left to play for.

New Zealand stopped the rot and got their Tri-Nations campaign back on track with an emphatic victory against Australia today.

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.

NEW ZEALAND have recalled their big stars for Sunday’s World Cup Pool C clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

John O’Neill, chief executive of the Australian Rugby Union, has blasted World Cup organisers for staging the Wallabies’ pivotal Pool B clash with Wales in Cardiff.

Australia have made two changes for Saturday’s crunch World Cup clash with Wales in Cardiff – and bolstered their forward power on the bench.

Wales head coach Gareth Jenkins will unveil his 30-man World Cup squad later today – and at the same time end one of the longest-running national debates by announcing his captain.

Australia co-captain Phil Waugh has urged his side to continue building their psychological advantage over New Zealand in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup decider in Auckland.

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.

Wallaby coach John Connolly’s plans to lay the foundation of victory against Wales based on improved forward power began to unravel less than half a day after his original team announcement.

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.

Dumped Australia skipper George Gregan is not bitter towards new Wallaby co-captains Phil Waugh and Stirling Mortlock and believes the pair will lead their country with aplomb.

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.

NOBODY disputes that David Wallace is one of the finest back-row forwards in world rugby, but opinions differ wildly on whether he would be best suited to the number six, seven or eight jersey.

Australia international Lote Tuqiri insists there can be no excuse for a poor autumn Test series in Europe this year.

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.

DEFIANT head coach Andy Robinson has insisted he can handle the pressure after presiding over England’s worst slump for 34 years.

Referees have been instructed to enforce a new “zero tolerance policy” towards stamping and back-chat – starting with tomorrow’s clash between Wales and Australia at the Millennium Stadium.

ENGLAND captain Martin Corry believes New Zealand have set a benchmark of consistency the world champions must try to emulate.

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

AUSTRALIA skipper George Gregan’s international future is likely to come under renewed scrutiny after the Wallabies’ laboured 20-18 win over South Africa in the Tri-Nations.

Australia 20 South Africa 18

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

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.

IN the aftermath of last week's defeat to New Zealand, Ireland's disappointment was tempered somewhat by the realisation that the All Blacks were a vastly superior force.

Ireland 7 New Zealand 45

ANDY ROBINSON has conceded that England have “dropped off the pace” since their World Cup triumph two years ago.

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

AUSTRALIA unveiled its team of the decade yesterday which included nine of the starting 15 from the Wallabies’ first series win over the British and Irish Lions in 2001.

Australia captain George Gregan wants to see the the Northern and Southern hemispheres play each other on a regular basis.

THE International Rugby Board has reached agreement with the northern hemisphere unions over the formation of the North team to take part in the IRB rugby aid match, ‘Rebuilding After the Tsunami’.

Barbarians 19 New Zealand 47

BARBARIANS coach Bob Dwyer yesterday gave an interesting glimpse into the future of Australian rugby by selecting Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri at outside centre and Matt Giteau at fly-half for tomorrow’s Gartmore Challenge against New Zealand at Twickenham.