Australia loose forward Scott Higginbotham has been ruled out of action for the series against the British and Irish Lions and the rest of the year after dislocating his shoulder, Australia rugby have confirmed.

Code-hopper Israel Folau is one of three new caps in Australia’s preliminary 25-man squad to face the British and Irish Lions, with in-form Reds playmaker Quade Cooper the most notable omission.

Wales 12 Australia 14

Australia 18 New Zealand 18

Australia coach Robbie Deans has brought in five players to an extended squad for the Wallabies’ next Rugby Championship match against South Africa.

Australia coach Robbie Deans will blood five new caps in the first of four successive Tests against Six Nations opponents in Newcastle on Tuesday night.

Australia have named number eight Radike Samo on the wing for Saturday’s World Cup clash with Russia in Nelson.

AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans was happy with the progress made in the win over the United States, but there was also cause for concern as the Wallabies’ injury toll mounted in Wellington.

Australia head coach Robbie Deans was happy with the progress made in the 67-5 win over the United States tonight, but there was also cause for concern as the Wallabies’ injury toll mounted in Wellington.

Australia bid to get their World Cup campaign back on course this morning, but anticipate fierce resistance from the United States in the Pool C encounter in Wellington.

ON Saturday morning, in our national newspaper, the creatively named The Australian, there was a degree of chest thumping about what was to happen that evening in Auckland.

Australia hooker Stephen Moore has been confirmed as another late withdrawal from the squad ahead of the clash with Ireland this morning.

Matt Giteau's chances of playing in a third Rugby World Cup have suffered a major blow after the veteran playmaker was left out of Australia's squad for Saturday's Tri Nations opener against South Africa.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has made just two changes to his starting XV for the Wallabies’ final Test of 2010 against France on Saturday night.

Four members of the Australian Sevens team have been included in a 36-man Wallabies squad for their upcoming tour of Hong Kong and Europe which includes a tie against Munster.

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.

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.

Quade Cooper has returned to the Australia starting line-up for Saturday’s Tri Nations encounter against South Africa in Pretoria in the only change made by coach Robbie Deans.

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