The International Rugby Board’s referees manager Paddy O’Brien has apologised to Stuart Dickinson for publicly criticising his handling of the New Zealand-Italy Test last weekend.

International Rugby Board referees’ boss Paddy O’Brien has apologised to the New Zealand team for Stuart Dickinson’s errors at the scrum last weekend and has warned the Australian official he needs to improve his game.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry claims uncertainty over scrum laws is ruining the game for spectators after watching his second-string side labour to victory over Italy at the San Siro on Saturday.

Leicester 22 South Africa 17

Mike Phillips has slammed the “punching and gouging” Springboks as the British and Irish Lions painfully licked their wounds today following one of Test rugby’s most ferocious matches.

Springboks 28 Lions 25

The International Rugby Board has announced the appointment of match officials for the Lions Tour to South Africa.

The International Rugby Board have named the referees for the Lions’ Test series against South Africa this summer.

England 34 France 10

REFEREES for the Lions Test series against South Africa this summer will come from neutral countries, the International Rugby Board confirmed yesterday.

Referees for the British and Irish Lions Test series against South Africa this summer will come from neutral countries, the International Rugby Board confirmed this afternoon.

IRELAND’S George Clancy will make his Six Nations refereeing debut this season when he takes charge of the France-Scotland clash at the Stade de France on February 14.

JAMES HOOK looks set to miss Wales’ Millennium Stadium clash against New Zealand next Saturday after suffering a knee injury during an error-strewn victory over Canada last night.

Wales 34 Canada 13

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry has refused to get into a war of words with South Africa counterpart Peter de Villiers after the latter accused the All Blacks of cheating in the scrums.

New Zealand extended their unbeaten home run to 30 matches with a gutsy victory over South Africa.

The Rugby World Cup was a washout for our national team but referee Alain Roland was there to fly the flag for Ireland at the final. Michael Moynihan spoke to him.

MARK CUETO has reflected on the moment England’s dream of making World Cup history drifted into oblivion, claiming: “It was 100% a try.”

Mark Cueto has reflected on the moment England’s dream of making World Cup history drifted into oblivion, claiming: “It was 100% a try.”

Global referees’ chief Paddy O’Brien has heaped praise on Australian television match official Stuart Dickinson, insisting there is “no doubt” he was correct to disallow Mark Cueto’s try in the World Cup final.

Jonny Wilkinson claimed the England team had been on “a hell of a journey” after they relinquished their World Cup crown to South Africa.

FRENCH coach Bernard Laporte is in hot water after threatening to withdraw his team from any game refereed by Stuart Dickinson.

CHRIS WHITE, who was involved in the controversial conclusion to the Italy-Wales clash during this season’s Six Nations, will referee Ireland’s Rugby World Cup game against hosts France on September 21.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry expects a “beauty” of a match when his fearsome All Blacks team take on France in the first of two autumn Tests this at Stade Gerland, Lyon this evening (8pm).

South Africa 26 France 36

Ireland 15 Scotland 9

A possible RBS Six Nations Championship decider against England in eight days was in the eyes of the Irish at Lansdowne Road before the famous old stadium was due to be demolished as part of reconstruction plans.

Scotland international Allister Hogg is aiming to cap a fine personal week with a Calcutta Cup win over England on Saturday.

Lions lock Danny Grewcock insists he did not bite New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu after being banned for two months.

The Lions tour of New Zealand reached a new low today when lock Danny Grewcock received a two-month ban for biting an opponent.

Clive Woodward launched his first media campaign of the tour just a day before the Lions face their biggest challenge yet by calling for touch-judges to stop interfering in the referee’s business.

SOUTH AFRICAN official Jonathan Kaplan - who was in charge of Ireland’s contentious RBS 6 Nations victory over England two months ago - will referee the Lions this summer.

The organisers of the Heineken Cup are to consider a review of their disciplinary and citing procedures after Munster's Marcus Horan was found innocent of making racist comments in a game against Neath Swansea Ospreys on October 31.

England boss Clive Woodward will not be disciplined following his comments during a post-match press conference in Auckland two months ago.

England coach Clive Woodward is expected to be censured by the International Rugby Board for criticising match officials after the New Zealand Rugby Union yesterday sent the governing body a videotape of last Saturday night’s media conference in Auckland.

Clive Woodward could find himself in hot water over the comments he made about Simon Shaw’s dismissal.

England lock Simon Shaw has been cleared of foul play after he was sent off in yesterday’s second Test defeat against New Zealand.

Wales 22 France 29

RBS Six Nations result:

Wales 12-13 France

RBS Six Nations latest:

Wales suffered a major blow ahead of today’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against France in Cardiff when their experienced hooker Robin McBryde withdrew from the starting line-up.

Scotland v Japan

Matt Dawson is out of England’s Test match against New Zealand in Wellington after failing to overcome a thigh injury.