All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has declared there can be no excuses for his side in this morning’s Rugby Championship decider against Australia and warns they’re in for a tough game if they don’t improve.

Australia foiled New Zealand’s bid to win an historic 18th consecutive Test as the Bledisloe Cup rivals played out a 12-12 stalemate at the ANZ Stadium.

Kerry native Tommy Walsh has returned to action with the Sydney Swans after 11 months out of the game with a hamstring injury.

Brian O’Driscoll last night insisted he has no “animosity” towards Warren Gatland ahead of the Six Nations.

Robin van Persie wasted no time in picking up where he left off last season with the final goal in Manchester United’s comfortable win over the A League All Stars in Sydney.

Tito Vilanova is stepping down as coach of Barcelona to continue his treatment for cancer, club president Sandro Rosell has confirmed.

Manchester United manager David Moyes is hoping to hear some positive news about his pursuit of Cesc Fabregas within the next couple of days.

David Moyes has suffered a blow to his Manchester United rebuilding plans after Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova claimed Cesc Fabregas has no intention of leaving the Nou Camp.

Robin van Persie linked up with Manchester United for the Australia leg of their pre-season tour amid speculation of renewed interest in the Dutchman’s former Arsenal team-mate Cesc Fabregas.

The British and Irish Lions juggernaut rolled out of town yesterday, to be put back in cold storage for four more years.

It was not just the Wallabies downed in Australia at the weekend by men who had travelled halfway across the globe.

Series-winning Lions coach Warren Gatland believes those players who achieved victory over Australia will go to New Zealand in four years with no inferiority complex about facing the All Blacks.

Australia 16 British and Irish Lions 41

Jonathan Sexton has promised Ireland players will do everything possible to ensure Brian O’Driscoll finishes his Test career on a high.

By Simon Lewis, Sydney

Will Genia will cherish a unique moment in his career when Australia and the British and Irish Lions collide in this morning’s series decider at ANZ Stadium.

Before this Test series even began, Australia coach Robbie Deans predicted the contest would come down to a battle of wills between his Wallabies and the British & Irish Lions.

It’s a dozen years since our columnist was manager of the Lions tour heading into a decisive final test in Sydney. He’s been facing his demons this week.

Tommy Bowe wants the British and Irish Lions to batter Australia into submission at ANZ Stadium, drawing on the pain of past failures to triumph in tomorrow’s series decider.

Will Genia has warned the British and Irish Lions that the best is yet to come from Australia with the rivals ready to decide their drawn series at ANZ Stadium tomorrow.

Graham Rowntree has ordered the British and Irish Lions to empty the tanks against Australia tomorrow in what he regards as the biggest match of the players’ lives.

British & Irish Lions centre Jonathan Davies is refusing to be sidetracked by the debate over Brian O’Driscoll’s omission for the third Test against Australia, and has instead paid tribute to the Irish hero he has replaced.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has promised his team will play its best rugby of the series tomorrow when the Wallabies face the British and Irish Lions in the decisive third Test at ANZ Stadium.

Jonathan Davies said he feels no extra pressure after replacing Brian O’Driscoll for the British and Irish Lions’ series decider against Australia at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.

Australia coach Robbie Deans is surprised by Brian O’Driscoll’s omission from the British and Irish Lions team for Saturday’s deciding Test at ANZ Stadium.

Flanker George Smith has been recalled to the Australia team to face the British and Irish Lions in the third and final Test in Sydney.

Alun Wyn Jones was as surprised as everyone else when he learned he was to captain the British & Irish Lions but the Wales lock insists he is ready for the responsibility of leading his side into the must-win third Test.

Former Ireland captain Keith Wood believes Warren Gatland has “made a terrible mistake” by leaving Brian O’Driscoll out of the British and Irish Lions’ deciding Test against Australia.

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has sprung one of the great surprises in the tourists’ history by dropping Brian O’Driscoll for Saturday’s series decider against Australia.

Australia captain James Horwill watched the Tour de France during a sleepless night spent agonising over whether he would be permitted to lead the Wallabies in Saturday’s series decider against the British and Irish Lions.

The British and Irish Lions are hopeful that Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips and Alex Corbisiero will be passed fit for Saturday’s series decider against Australia at ANZ Stadium.

Australia captain James Horwill has responded to an appeal hearing’s decision to clear him to play in Saturday’s deciding Test against the British and Irish Lions by declaring he had been “vindicated”.

Wallabies match-winner Adam Ashley-Cooper is bracing himself for a big-time return of midfield rival Jamie Roberts when Australia face the British & Irish Lions in Saturday’s series decider in Sydney.

The saying goes that a sporting injury is one man’s misfortune but another’s opportunity and the situation in which Brian O’Driscoll now finds himself offers several as he prepares for his final Test as a British & Irish Lion.

Quade Cooper is poised to return to the Australia team for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash with New Zealand in Auckland.

Australia 19 New Zealand 27

Sonny Bill Williams made a triumphant return to ANZ Stadium as New Zealand claimed victory over Australia in the Rugby Championship opener.

THE British and Irish Lions will play Test matches in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney when they tour Australia in 2013.

The British and Irish Lions will play Test matches in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney when they tour Australia in 2013.

Australia have made a disastrous start to their World Cup preparations after suffering a shock 32-23 loss to underdogs Samoa at ANZ Stadium.

Celtic 0 Central Coast Mariners 1

Australia 22 New Zealand 23

Adam Ashley-Cooper admits ending Australia’s losing streak against New Zealand is a major motivation ahead of Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash at ANZ Stadium.

Victor Anichebe was on target as Everton beat Sydney FC 1-0 in their first pre-season game in Australia today.