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Recuperating Vickery to miss start of Six Nations

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Wasps prop Phil Vickery will miss the start of the Six Nations despite undergoing successful neck surgery. Vickery requires a minimum three months of rehabilitation from the injury sustained against Racing Metro last month.

All Blacks confirm Carter will start

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

New Zealand would like everyone to know, Warren Gatland in particular, that Dan Carter will most certainly, most definitely, most undeniably be starting at the Millennium Stadium today. "He's assured me all week he will be playing," said Richie McCaw. "And he better not be lying to me."

Roberts brings home Lions spirit

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Through all the mind games, reverse swipes and subtle putdowns that have characterised a build-up that at the very best could be described as tetchy, the Wales and New Zealand camps have at least managed to agree on one thing. Jamie Roberts will be a key man at the Millennium Stadium this evening - if not the key man.

Johnson desperate for first big scalp

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

England have spent the last decade and a half beating Australia in all the games that really matter: the World Cup quarter-finals of 1995 and 2007 are prime examples, along with the 2003 contest in Melbourne, where Sir Clive Woodward's team proved to everyone except a couple of one-eyed sheep farmers from Wagga Wagga that they were the outstanding side on the planet. Not forgetting another little tussle in Sydney later the same year, when a bloke by the name of Wilkinson dropped a goal and Martin Johnson cracked a smile for the first time in his adult life.

Vickery operation a success

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:39:16 GMT

England prop Phil Vickery will miss the start of the RBS 6 Nations despite undergoing successful neck surgery.

Carter desperate to win fitness battle

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:35:17 GMT

New Zealand star Dan Carter is confident he will be fit to face Wales in Cardiff tomorrow.

Lawes can make England impact insists Saints director

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:32:57 GMT

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder has backed second row Courtney Lawes to make a big impact for England against Australia on Saturday - provided he is given an opportunity off the bench.

Gatland says Carter is not fit

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

The Wales coach, Warren Gatland, said yesterday that he does not expect New Zealand's Dan Carter to be fit enough to face his side at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow. Carter has been named in the All Blacks XV, but has not trained this week as a result of a calf injury.

Australians bring back Smith to haunt Johnson

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

No rugby player wins 100-plus caps for his country without knowing a thing or two about this rough old game, so George Smith's return to the Wallaby back row for tomorrow's sell-out meeting with England at Twickenham gives Martin Johnson and company something to ponder. The rugged little flanker from the ACT Brumbies is one of eight survivors from the side that started the resounding victory in London a year ago – Australia's biggest in the capital in almost a quarter of a century – and in his department at least, the tourists look stronger this time around. Oh dear.

Lawrence Dallaglio: 'England have had no strategy since we won the World Cup'

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Lawrence Dallaglio ambles out of the room, checking the messages on his mobile phone. A couple of minutes later he returns. "About all that England stuff..." he says and then pauses. This zealous communicator, a happy chewer of the fat, for once does not have the words immediately to hand. "I'm a patriot," he states after a moment, and shrugs. "All I want is to see England doing well."

Australia expect England to prove toughest test

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:21:25 GMT

Australia coach Robbie Deans believes Saturday's Twickenham showdown with England will be the toughest assignment of their autumn tour.

Thompson experience is vital says Dallaglio

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:07:35 GMT

Lawrence Dallaglio believes Steve Thompson's experience of beating Australia will prove vital when England take on their old foes on Saturday.

Steve Thompson:'I'm as fit as I was in 2003'

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Rugby injuries? They're not as catastrophic as some people make out, despite the doom and gloom surrounding the England squad in its orthopaedically challenged state.

England's lack of front a real worry for Johnson

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

The unexpected return of Steve Thompson to England's starting front row for this weekend's awkward meeting with the Wallabies at Twickenham will inject almost 50 caps' worth of experience into a reshaped tight unit, but the bump-and-grind department remains the source of greatest worry for the manager Martin Johnson, who knows a thing or two about life in the darkened recesses.

Henry confident All Blacks have not lost aura

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Despite admitting that Dan Carter is "not 100 per cent" certain of recovering from his calf injury in time, it was with a familiarly confident air that Graham Henry announced the team which will be trying to extend a quite staggering period of dominance over Wales to 57 years and 21 games. As the New Zealand coach put it: "We are here again, the same as we've been for the last seven years."

Johnson talks up World Cup winners

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:33:12 GMT

England team manager Martin Johnson has hailed the impact of World Cup winners Jonny Wilkinson and Steve Thompson in the run up to Saturday's clash with Australia.

Thompson starts for England against Australia

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:26:02 GMT

Steve Thompson will complete a remarkable international comeback when he starts for England against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.

Horan major Ireland doubt after latest tests

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:18:13 GMT

Fears are growing surrounding the availability of Marcus Horan for the upcoming autumn internationals after the IRFU confirmed the Munster prop was undergoing "a series of tests and investigations".

Australia right to fear Wilkinson say England

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:40:23 GMT

Australia have been warned they are right to fear the return of Jonny Wilkinson ahead of Saturday's Investec Challenge showdown at Twickenham.

Australians make light work of Gloucester's defence

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Perhaps it was a good thing that a friendly between a second-string Guinness Premiership team and a second-string Australian outfit would bear little relevance for the autumn series opener at Twickenham on Saturday. For the gold and green were in a different league to their opponents here last night.

Johnson driven to blood red-rose rookies

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

There are players associated with the England squad who must be wondering what they have to do to get themselves an even break – as usual, the outstanding Sale centre Mathew Tait is foremost amongst them – but there will at least be signs of a fresh side taking shape when Martin Johnson's team take on the Wallabies at Twickenham this weekend. Two new players, the France-based midfielder Ayoola Erinle and the Northampton lock Courtney Lawes, will be in the squad, along with three others who have only half-a-dozen caps between them.

Jenkins warns Wales of wounded All Blacks

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Neil Jenkins has given short shrift to the critics prepared to write off New Zealand following their Tri-Nations disappointments this year. The All Blacks suffered three defeats – all against the world champions South Africa – during the southern hemisphere's showpiece competition.

Deans rules out Tuqiri Australia return

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:22:42 GMT

His focus solely on England, Robbie Deans says it's "unlikely" Lote Tuqiri will ever return to the Wallabies fold despite his impending comeback to rugby with English Premiership champions Leicester.

Wales pray for end to '56 years of hurt'

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:17:23 GMT

As Warren Gatland named his Wales rugby side to face the All Blacks, the local paper was putting on its bravest face.

Court desperate to feature for Ireland

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:45:08 GMT

With Ireland facing three autumn international matches against Southern Hemisphere opposition this month, Ulster’s Tom Court will have his fingers crossed that he features in coach Declan Kidney’s plans.